Cape Town — The Democratic Alliance (DA) has welcomed the preliminary suspension of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) CEO, Busisiwe Memela-Khambula, and hoped that the investigations that follow are executed rapidly.
The Minister of Social Development, Nokuzola Tolashe, placed Memela-Khambula on a temporary suspension that was prompted by an investigation without any hindrance or interference due to her position as CEO.
The decision was taken to protect her dignity and integrity and praised Memela-Khambula for her humility in the decision, adding that all decisions were made in the best interests of SASSA and its beneficiaries.
In a statement, the DA has now called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to allow the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe the wide-scale fraud at SASSA, as the DA feels the Department of Social Development is out of its depth and too slow to take action.
“While the Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, made the obvious decision in suspending Memela-Khambula, it is regrettable that neither she nor the Deputy Minister, Ganief Hendricks, attended the final Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Social Development meeting of the year to provide feedback on this matter or on the compromised SASSA Social Relief of Distressed (SRD) R370 grant system,” DA spokesperson, Alexandra Abrahams said.
🚨The DA calls on the President to urgently proclaim a rapid and thorough investigation into SASSA fraud! Suspended CEO Memela-Khambula can’t continue earning millions while SA’s poorest suffer. We demand accountability!https://t.co/7hJwxFkT9O
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) December 5, 2024
Acting Director-General (DG), Peter Netshipale could not provide answers to Members on the CEO’s suspension, or on the investigation into the SRD R370 fradu scandal.
“It is concerning that the SRD grant system remains compromised, with fraudsters continuing to syphon off public funds meant for the poor and vulnerable, while desperate eligible South Africans who are predominately youth, remain locked out of receiving social assistance,” Abrahams said.
The DA revealed it was a Chapter 9 Institution to come down on the Department before action was taken against the SASSA CEO. The Public Protector’s probe meant the Minister took action, while the DA has raised concerns about the CEO for years.
The DA said many SASSA beneficiaries have suffered the insensitivity and incompetence of the suspended CEO, as SASSA payments have been paid late, to the wrong people, or suspended without explanation. Her intervention in corruption and fraud has bled SASSA dry.
“While SASSA grant beneficiaries have to live from hand to mouth and waste their limited resources in attempts to receive their grants, the CEO has now been suspended with pay – and she will be free to enjoy her millions per annum salary while South Africa’s poorest and most vulnerable continue to suffer,” Abrahams added.
“The probe must be rapid, and thorough to avoid wasting millions on this suspension,” he concluded.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
