MEDIA STATEMENT
BY THE
INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY
Social Grants Crisis Proof ANC Government is 'Out of Steam'
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25 March 2009 The latest crisis concerning the payout of social grants and pensions is proof that ANC-run institutions are unable to deliver basic services, the IFP claims. "With KwaZulu Natal hospitals and Durban's public transport grinding to a halt, the payout of social grants and pensions is yet another essential service ANC-run state institutions seem unable to deliver to the people just weeks before 22 April election. Clearly, the ANC government is out of steam," said IFP KwaZulu Natal Premier Candidate Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi. The IFP has consistently opposed the use of third party agencies such as the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and its subcontractors to administer the payout of social grants and pensions. "By delegating this service to an agency, the government has found a way to avoid accountability for crises like the one we are facing now with the prospect of up to seven million South Africans not receiving social grants and pensions next week due to an administrative glitch," said kaMagwaza-Msibi. Despite this shift in direct responsibility for the payout of social grants and pensions, the IFP contends it is the Department of Social Development that is to blame. "The department must have been aware that SASSA's contracts with some of its subcontractors (Cash Paymaster Services, All Pay and Empilweni) were coming to an end and it failed to intervene," said kaMagwaza-Msibi. Similarly, the IFP has opposed the removal of responsibility over welfare payouts away from the provinces to the SASSA offices based in Pretoria. "This centralisation has impacted heavily on service delivery and increased the likelihood of the current crisis," said kaMagwaza-Msibi. The IFP has pointed out that the administration of social grants and pensions is under threat despite a R1.2-billion injection into this government function in the latest budget. In its election manifesto, the IFP has
promised to streamline the administration of social grants and
pensions as well as their substantial increase. "We will lobby
for the increase of the social pension to at least R1,500 per
month and the increase of the child support grant to R880 per
month as well as its extension to age 18," said kaMagwaza-Msibi. Contact: |
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