Durban - The IFP wants the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) to have an independent board to ensure its independence from ministerial interference.
The party said it would propose an amendment to The Sassa Act to achieve this by way of a private members' bill.
The board would be tasked with the appointment of executives and oversight of the entity's fiduciary responsibilities.
IFP spokesperson on social development Liezl van der Merwe said meetings had already been held with parliamentary law advisers to discuss the proposed bill.
“The latest developments at Sassa pertaining to the forced exit of its former chief executive (Thokozani Magwaza) and the appointment of a close confidant of the minister of social development (former head of Sassa in KwaZulu-Natal Pearl Bhengu) have highlighted the need for urgent steps to be taken to ensure greater accountability and improved corporate governance at the entity,” van der Merwe said.
“Sassa controls billions in taxpayers’ money, and looks after the poor and most vulnerable in our society.”