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SASSA

A litany of lies: Sassa’s greatest hits
Article
/ 3 March 2017

A litany of lies: Sassa’s greatest hits

Its job is to serve the poorest. Instead, the social development agency spins a web of doublespeak.

By Phillip De Wet
Cosatu calls for Dlamini’s head
Article
/ 3 March 2017

Cosatu calls for Dlamini’s head

The demand follows a shambolic week during which officials failed to give adequate answers.

By Govan Whittles and Phillip De Wet
Editorial: Sliver of hope in disaster
Article
/ 3 March 2017

Editorial: Sliver of hope in disaster

The inquiry is a reminder that democratic mechanisms are there, to be used by South Africans to drag some kind of accountability out of the executive.

By Editorial
How ConCourt could save Sassa
Article
/ 3 March 2017

How ConCourt could save Sassa

In terms of its original ruling, CPS, once contracted, acts as an organ of the state and has to provide a service.

By Lynley Donnelly
Cash trucks may be used to deliver grants, says social development department
Article
/ 2 March 2017

Cash trucks may be used to deliver grants, says social development department

Director general Zane Dangor says the method had been used before and would be the last option to disburse social security money to 17-million people.

By Paul Herman
Cabinet fails to address social grants payment crisis
Article
/ 2 March 2017

Cabinet fails to address social grants payment crisis

Jeff Radebe says the Cabinet will meet some time next week to discuss the crisis created by the social development department and social grants agency

By Mg Online and Staff Reporter
Presidency summons social development director general over social grants crisis
Article
/ 1 March 2017

Presidency summons social development director general over social grants crisis

The social security agency’s contract with the company disbursing grants ends this month and it’s feared that 17-million people may not receive them.

By Paul Herman
​Big names missing, little names boastful on Sassa’s grants tender
Article
/ 28 February 2017

​Big names missing, little names boastful on Sassa’s grants tender

Absa fought tooth and nail on a previous tender, but now it is conspiciously absent.

By Phillip De Wet
Sassa farce attempts the unworkable
Article
/ 24 February 2017

Sassa farce attempts the unworkable

It believes it can bridge an unbreachable divide — but, don’t worry, there is apparently another plan

By Phillip De Wet and Sarah Evans
ANC MPs rally behind Dlamini: Missing Sassa deadline ‘no natural disaster’
Article
/ 22 February 2017

ANC MPs rally behind Dlamini: Missing Sassa deadline ‘no natural disaster’

Opposition parties criticised Dlamini for being negligent and unprepared, during a meeting to detail the department’s plans regarding grant payments.

By Thulani Gqirana
Grant crisis has social development running in circles
Article
/ 17 February 2017

Grant crisis has social development running in circles

Correspondence suggests that Bathabile Dlamini’s approach was to make Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan jointly responsible for Sassa’s plan of action.

By Pauli van Wyk and Phillip De Wet
Dlamini rejects Gordhan’s social grants proposal
Article
/ 16 February 2017

Dlamini rejects Gordhan’s social grants proposal

The social development minister has 43 days to ensure the 17-million people get their money. She has had since 2014 to sort out the problem.

By Staff Reporter
Extending Net 1 social welfare contract would be unlawful, says Pravin Gordhan
Article
/ 15 February 2017

Extending Net 1 social welfare contract would be unlawful, says Pravin Gordhan

The social development department’s ability to continue to make monthly welfare payments to about 17-million people is in jeopardy.

By Amogelang Mbatha 1
Patience and desperation in the social grant queue
Article
/ 3 February 2017

Patience and desperation in the social grant queue

"Most child support grant beneficiaries say it’s impossible to get by on R350 a month."

By Govan Whittles and Given Sigauqwe
Social services on track for April Fool’s Day fiasco
Article
/ 3 February 2017

Social services on track for April Fool’s Day fiasco

No one’s sure whether, come April 1, social grants will be paid out as the agency bungles the process of bringing the system in-house

By Phillip De Wet
​Wanted: Software, hardware and 60 000 staff to pay social security grants
Article
/ 31 January 2017

​Wanted: Software, hardware and 60 000 staff to pay social security grants

Bidders hoping to be part of Sassa’s grant payment system from April 1 have only a few details to get grants to 17-million people.

By Phillip De Wet
​Social grants: Minister missing, agency silent
Article
/ 26 January 2017

​Social grants: Minister missing, agency silent

Sassa missed a critical deadline this week

By Phillip De Wet
Sassa totally unprepared for D-day
Article
/ 20 January 2017

Sassa totally unprepared for D-day

Undoubtedly social grants will still be paid but some very tough questions need to be answered.

By Phillip De Wet and Lynley Donnelly
Social development department ignores Reserve Bank, imperils welfare for 17-million
Article
/ 14 December 2016

Social development department ignores Reserve Bank, imperils welfare for 17-million

The department may have to extend its deal with Net 1 UEPS to continue with the R129-billion in annual payments when the contract ends in April.

By Staff Reporter
How Sassa paid R316-million to a contractor based on a ‘lie’
Article
/ 30 September 2016

How Sassa paid R316-million to a contractor based on a ‘lie’

A detailed inspection of the paper trail finds that the work claimed for was covered by an all-inclusive fee.

By Craig Mckune
How Sassa paid R316-million to a contractor based on a ‘lie’
Article
/ 30 September 2016

How Sassa paid R316-million to a contractor based on a ‘lie’

A detailed inspection of the paper trail finds that the work claimed for was covered by an all-inclusive fee.

By Craig Mckune
Insurance groups fight bid to halt social grant deductions
Article
/ 18 May 2016

Insurance groups fight bid to halt social grant deductions

Sassa received more that 1 000 complaints from social grant beneficiaries about deductions for funeral policies and electricity.

By Pontsho Pilane
Molewa: M&G blurred lines on Madonsela’s report
Article
/ 13 May 2016

Molewa: M&G blurred lines on Madonsela’s report

Minister Edna Molewa says the Mail & Guardian had not reported about her role in the Sassa case fairly.

By Staff Reporter
Spotlight on social grants: The good, the bad and the confusing
Article
/ 20 October 2015

Spotlight on social grants: The good, the bad and the confusing

For millions of South Africans, the monthly social grants are the difference between survival and starvation.

By Staff Reporter
Spotlight on social grants: Sassa’s bid to stop illegal deductions
Article
/ 15 October 2015

Spotlight on social grants: Sassa’s bid to stop illegal deductions

Every month, money is deducted from the accounts of hundreds of beneficiaries of social grants without their permission.

By Staff Reporter
Net1 – the company that runs the social grant payment system
Article
/ 14 October 2015

Net1 – the company that runs the social grant payment system

The government’s social security payment system is managed by a subsidiary of Net1, a company listed on stock exchanges in the US and Johannesburg.

By Staff Reporter
Spotlight on social grants: How grants are used to back loans
Article
/ 13 October 2015

Spotlight on social grants: How grants are used to back loans

Some social grant beneficiaries are so deeply in debt that much of each month’s grant goes to paying back a loan.

By Staff Reporter
No image available
Article
/ 1 October 2015

[From our archives] TB man’s shirt too nice for a grant

South Africa has disability grants but a doctor deemed his tuberculosis patient was not poor enough.

By Amy Green
Loan sharks ‘eat up’ social grants
Article
/ 26 June 2014

Loan sharks ‘eat up’ social grants

Society’s most vulnerable are at the mercy of micro-lenders and trapped in a vicious cycle of debt

By Staff Reporter
Cashing in on social grants
Article
/ 22 May 2014

Cashing in on social grants

Net1 subsidiaries are still advancing loans to welfare recipients, despite a state injunction to the contrary.

By Staff Reporter
Fransman wins DA’s food for votes case
Article
/ 2 May 2014

Fransman wins DA’s food for votes case

The DA has lost the case it brought against Marius Fransman and other figures, who were accused of canvassing for votes with food parcels.

By Glynnis Underhill
Western Cape food for votes case in court
Article
/ 30 April 2014

Western Cape food for votes case in court

The DA has accused Western Cape ANC chair Marius Fransman and Sassa CEO Virginia Petersen of handing out food parcels while campaigning for the ANC.

By Glynnis Underhill
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