Admin
03 Oct, 2018
Government still fails on SASSA system
The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is stunned that many social grant beneficiaries still have difficulties in accessing their grants on time due to a number of cash points that have been closed since the Post Office took over from Cash Paymaster Services. This is totally unacceptable. UDEMWO has asked before whether the South African Social Service (Sassa) has the capability and capacity to deliver on its promise of smooth running and uninterrupted system. Beneficiaries, especially those in rural areas, continue to find it difficult to reach far pay points since the usual ones have been closed. The ATM system is not user-friendly or safe for the elderly. There must be another safer way that will work. What is happening at Sassa paints a clear picture of the incompetence of all those involved in the continuing debacle. Innocent people are suffering because the ruling party continues to elect selfish and self-serving individuals to positions of power. We call upon Social Development Minister Susan Shabangu to do the right thing and come forth and explain to the nation of her lasting plans to make sure that the problems that are clouding Sassa are solved. Issued by: Thandi Nontenja UDEMWO Secretary General
Admin
28 Sep, 2018
Bathabile Dlamini should be shown the door
We have noted that the Constitutional Court has handed down judgement in the former Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini case. The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) has been vindicated. Our longstanding view has been that the minister must face the music and that she should personally be held liable for creating this mess. We therefore welcome the decision that she should pay 20% of the Black Sash and Freedom Under Law’s legal costs. The South African Social Security Agency disaster has caused much damage to, and distress for, the recipients of government grants. As a matter of fact, it would be difficult to calculate the cost of the damage she’s done to the most vulnerable members of our society. It is her incompetence and self-centred attitude that has led her to this point. She will only leave a legacy of self-importance and ineptitude in her former department, which she will only carry over to her current portfolio. Dlamini is arrogant and has no respect for her work nor for the law; as she has demonstrated when she lied with a straight face under oath. The UDEMWO calls upon the National Prosecuting Authority to forge ahead and charge her for perjury. The ruling party is to be blamed for this mess as it continues to put corrupt and selfish individuals in positions of power. President Ramaphosa must show Dlamini the door; and he should do this immediately. This country cannot afford this kind of incompetence and negligence from any minister in any portfolio; Dlamini should go! Issued by: Thandi Nontenja UDEMWO Secretary General
Admin
06 Jul, 2018
SASSA beneficiaries are again the victim of inept management
The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is disturbed by the South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) debacle that continues to disadvantage beneficiaries, especially elderly pensioners. The so-called glitch in the social grant service is simply not a good enough reason, if there are any, to blame for the continued inept management of the system. Since the past weekend, pensioners all over were left in the dark after not being able to access their monies. Many braved the cold, standing in queues, in the hope that this issue will be resolved. It is even worse when one considers that there was no communication with beneficiaries informing them of the problem. UDEMWO condemns the way SASSA’s management goes about their work. This mess clearly shows they are incompetent. We are of the view that there was internal sabotage from those who were reluctant to hand over to the post office. Any normal department would know that one cannot just go live without testing a new system and then expect miracles. They should have run a parallel demo before complete switch over. This mess must be sorted as a matter of urgency as the beneficiaries are suffering. We call on the Department of Social Development to pull up its socks. Swift interventions must be in place to ensure that, in the following months, everything runs smoothly. Issued by: Ms Thandi Nontenja UDEMWO secretary General
Admin
17 Mar, 2017
SASSA Constitutional Court judgement is an indictment of the Zuma Administration
Statement by Bantu Holomisa, MP and UDM President The United Democratic Movement (UDM) notes the Constitutional Court’s instruction that the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) and Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) are under obligation to continue to pay social grants on 1 April until another entity is able to do so. The ANC government has more-or-less blackmailed the Constitutional Court, for if it should have happened that social grants were not paid on time, Government could conveniently shift the blame for the non-payment to the Constitutional Court. It is however worrying that our Country is effectively being run via the court room, because the Zuma Administration time and again fails to perform its duties. It is clear that President Zuma, and his cohorts, are holding onto their positions of power for one reason only: to further loot the Country’s resources at the expense of the taxpayer. Forget, for a moment, all the other examples of this phenomenon and be conscious of the fact that the Sassa/CPS-debacle is especially reprehensible, because it happened at the expense of the most vulnerable in our society. If not for the Constitutional Court’s intervention, where would we be? This situation is an embarrassment for South Africa and the Zuma Administration (and Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini in particular in this instance) has again brought the country into disrepute. Their behaviour shows a lack of respect for the court. There is no accountability and worse, no consequences for those in power when they so spectacularly fail. The message to those who voted for the African National Congress (ANC) is clear. President Zuma, his Executive and the ANC have no respect for South Africans – nor do they have sympathy or show remorse. The ANC has clearly lost the plot and this arrogance can only be addressed in one way, cast your vote elsewhere. You have the capacity to punish the ANC for these misdeeds; come 2019 make proper use of your cross.
Admin
16 Mar, 2017
Deductions from SASSA monies – Follow-up question to the President by Bantu Holomisa
Question: 4 from Ms. L. L. van der Merwe (IFP) to the President Original Question: What steps does he intend to take against the Minister of Social Development who has allegedly led her department into a national grant pay-out crisis which puts the lives of the most vulnerable citizens at risk and allegedly shown a complete disregard for the rule of law and the Constitutional Court ruling of 2014 which declared the CPS/NET1 contract invalid and what lessons has the Government learnt from the looming grant crisis? 1. Mr. President, a word of gratitude must go to our civil society organisations, such as Black Sash and Freedom Under Law, for their resilience in advocating for the poor in the social grant crisis, which includes: • the alleged irregular use of personal details captured in a database in CPS’s possession, • the unauthorised selling of airtime to unsuspecting beneficiaries, • as well as other illegal deductions, which reportedly amount to no less than a whopping R500 million a month. Would it not be prudent for your government to approach the courts to issue an order that will empower government and enable beneficiaries to recoup the monies that were illegally taken through the illegal CPS/NET1 contract?
Admin
14 Mar, 2017
SA Social Agency’s grant payment crisis and the steps taken to deal with the matter
Honourable Speaker, and Honourable Members South Africans and, in particular, the poorest of the poor (whose livelihood by right) depend on social grants, must now place their hopes on the Constitutional Court to defend their rights and restore their dignity. The Constitutional Court must force our embarrassed government to pay the beneficiaries and to do so on time. Under normal circumstances, this matter should have been occasioned by an investigation of a judicial commission of inquiry. However, knowing who has to effect such an inquiry, we may as well forget about it. Hence, all hope is pinned on the Constitutional Court. The United Democratic Movement hopes that the Constitutional Court will issue a judgement that will restore the rule of law instead of a rule by law, wherein the powers of the accounting officers will be respected and the political interference by the executive authorities will become a thing of the past. The unscrupulous manipulation by politicians and the reported interference by the advisors of the President and the Minister of Social Development, undermining the role of appointed officials, is a clear demonstration of an irreparably corrupt government. The political directives that are interfering with the procurement processes are in fact corrupt transactions. It is the same Minister who, when her colleagues drove cars to a funeral of a late senior commander of uMkhonto we Sizwe in Willowvale, flew in a helicopter accompanied by the beneficiaries of the Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) contract. “Who hired this helicopter?” I asked myself, as I was present at the funeral and saw at the spectacular landing. We want answers. I thank you
Admin
12 Mar, 2017
SASSA social grants chaos: Zuma and Dlamini must go
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) finds the revelations by today’s Sunday Times as damning of President Jacob Zuma, as it is of Minister of Social Development Bathabile Dlamini. The Minister acted on the basis of unsolicited advice from the President’s special- and legal adviser, Mr Michael Hulley, and despite the concerns and protestations of developmental officials and the South Africa Social Security Agency (Sassa). She undermined and defied the sound legal advice of one of the most renowned legal minds in South Africa, Advocate Wim Trengove SC, as well as other independent lawyers. The arrogance displayed by the Minister since this chaos became public, as well as the uninvited intervention of Mr Hulley, suggests that the President’s hand is at the centre of the crisis. The big question is: Who mandated Mr Hulley to attend meetings uninvited and unwelcome? His boss must answer this. The state law advisors seem to not have been involved throughout this process, yet Mr Hulley spends time doing what he is not appointed for. One would have expected the state lawyers, internal departmental and Sassa legal advisers to advise the Minister. It is very clear, that the Minister and the Office of the President have direct interests in making sure that the Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) contract is extended regardless of the legalities and the Constitutional Court order. This is another example of clear manipulation of the process, intended to grossly undermine the rule of law and accountability. The centrality of the President, through his adviser, means that he is part of this chaos. We were not surprised by Mr Zuma’s recent response to the loud call of South Africans to release the dubious Minister from her responsibilities. The fact that the President has decided to side with the Minister means he too is at fault. Clearly, the President and his minister are showing South Africans, the Constitutional Court and, in particular, the social grants beneficiaries the middle figure. It is for this reason that the UDM calls for the immediate resignation of both President Zuma and Minister Dlamini. If the African National Congress (ANC), as is always the case, fails to remove these questionable characters from service, South Africans must vote the ANC out of power in 2019 for its failure to put South Africa first. The ANC has always put itself and its corrupt leader above the interests of South Africans. It spouts words in favour of the people, yet its actions are against the people. Even this morning the ANC was on national television launching its so-called new policy proposal, yet their President and his faction are busy with faction battles and bankrupting the country.
Admin
07 Mar, 2017
Payment of social grants to beneficiaries – statement by Mr Mncedisi Filtane, MP – UDM National Deputy Chairperson
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) welcomes President Jacob Zuma’s commitment in regards to the payment of social grants on the 1st of April 2017. However, South Africans must not be blinded. This is a self-created crisis by the most uncaring and reckless administration we have had since the dawn of democracy. After the appearance by the Minister of Social Development in front of the Scopa Parliamentary Committee on Tuesday the 7th of March 2017, UDM has more reason to be worried. She has deliberately failed to inspire confidence that government is indeed ready to pay grants. The fact that the negotiations with CPS are not concluded speaks volumes. We would indeed encourage a joint demonstration of commitment to the resolution of this crisis. It cannot be that government Ministers are unable to sing from the same hymn book on this matter. The Department’s and the Minister of Social Development’s actions are a deliberate disregard of the law and the highest court of the land. It has become fashionable for government leaders to ignore court orders. Surely, if the President is serious, action must be taken against her and anyone else on the wrong side of the law. Instead of working for the welfare of our vulnerable citizens, the Minister has spent her time focussing on internal party squabbles. It is exactly what we mean when we say that, under President Zuma’s leadership, the African National Congress has placed the people of South Africa last on their agenda. What preoccupies them instead, is their bottomless pockets, their friends and their organisation. Also, it is not surprising that National Treasury refused to support the department and minister in their latest actions, as this may be an illegal procurement of services as was found by the Constitutional Court three years ago. The fact that President Zuma’s minsters are not working together, to find a proper and legally correct solution to the problem, is a display of arrogance and a sign of a government without regard for the most vulnerable members of our society. We are still waiting for full disclosure and account from the Minister on the fact that over the years, CPS has developed a range of services for cellular airtime called (Umoya Manje), Insurance (Smartlife) and loans (Moneyline). Payment for these services are deducted before the grant is made. This has been one of the big daylight robbery acts of the most vulnerable citizens. We want to know whether this so-called new contract with CPS still carries these services and we want to know why if so. Abantu abahluphekileyo mabaganikwa iinkonzo abangakhange bazifune kananjalo bengazazi. Loomcimbi ka CPS uyewasetyenziswa ngenkohlakalo enjongiswe kubantu abadala nabahluphekileyo.
