The Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape notes the continued failing of the South African Social Support Agency’s (SASSA) as indicated by their irregular expenditure of over R1bn. In a recent briefing, the agency provided an outline of its abysmal financial standing and utterly poor management of human resources.
Gillion Bosman MPP said: “SASSA is the primary public agent charged with support of the most vulnerable in our society. Considering the pandemic and humanitarian crisis we face, South Africa needs a social security agency which is fit for purpose, with smooth running systems and processes. Instead, SASSA provides over R1bn worth of irregular expenditure and its consequence management has seen only one dismissal as a result.”
According to an audit on SASSA’s financial standing, the agency itself admits that “long outstanding cases of irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure are not resolved and finalized in time and there was no evidence of consequence management relating to irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure cases”.
Of 282 cases investigated by the agency which contributed over R140-million in irregular expenditure, consequence management led to the “Training” of 41 officials. This begs the question of why taxpayers are paying for training of officials who should already be effective at their jobs in such a critical agency of the state? This is further exacerbated by the fact that although 282 cases were investigated, 92 officials were involved – repeat offenders is clearly a major concern at SASSA which its leadership is unable or unwilling to manage.
Gillion Bosman MPP adds: “The public pays more for officials who can’t be trusted to do their job, and then has to pay senior counsel to help investigate and discipline these cadres.”
Whilst SASSA fails, the Western Cape’s Provincial Department of Social Development continues to enjoy sound financial management, with clean audits for the last seven years.
Bosman MPP further notes: “I have written to SASSA, requesting their attendance at the Social Development Committee in order to provide clarity on the irregular expenditure, how much of this is constituted by fruitless and wasteful spending, and the impact thereof on the people of the Western Cape. In light of the magnitude of this concern, I have further invited the national Minister Lindiwe Zulu to account to our committee”.
The DA in this province will continue to monitor the work of SASSA as it finally opens its doors to the public. We will further go above and beyond in supporting vulnerable communities at this exceptionally crucial time.
