Bathabile Dlamini says she has taken responsibility for Sassa crisis
Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini says she is not blaming South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) officials for the looming social grants crisis, but has taken responsibility herself.
Dlamini was summoned to answer questions at the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) on why no service agreement has been signed yet with a provider to pay more than 17 million social grant beneficiaries from 1 April 2017.
The EFF's Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said the current situation shows to a personal failure by the minister.
Dlamini denied shifting the blame.
"I'm not blaming the officials. I have taken responsibility," said Dlamini.
The minister said she serves at the pleasure of the president.
"Ministers are appointed by the president. When you join an organisation you don't join it to be a minister. You get appointed," said Dlamini.