Parliament - The Democratic Alliance has asked Public
Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane to investigate the relationship between Cash
Paymaster Services and Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini, who is
seeking to extend the company's contract to distribute more than 17 million
welfare grants.
"The vital question as to why Dlamini is so hell
bent on ensuring that CPS continue distributing social grants must be
investigated fully by the Public Protector," said the DA's social
development spokeswoman Bridget Masango.
"This investigation will help shed light on whether
Dlamini will either directly or indirectly benefit from this contract with CPS."
Masango said the opposition party lodged a complaint with
Mkhwebane because Dlamini has consistently rejected alternative proposals on
grant distribution.
Newspaper reports at the weekend that President Jacob
Zuma's legal advisor Michael Hulley had sought to influence the process in
CPS's favour, added to the need for an investigation, she said.
Read also: Treasury will not act illegally on welfare deal
The contract between CPS and the South African Social
Security Agency (Sassa) was declared invalid by the Constitutional Court in
2014, but allowed to run until the end of this month so as not to disrupt grant
payments.
Dlamini has insisted that only CPS is able to pay grants
from April, because Sassa remains unable to assume the responsibility of grant
administration.
The Constitutional Court has given Sassa a deadline of
Monday afternoon to account on how the crisis arose.
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