Urgent Complaint Filed by DA Regarding SASSA Non-Payment Crisis. This morning, Bridget Masango MP, the DA Shadow Minister of Social Development, along with Refiloe Nt’sekhe MPL and Bronwynn Engelbrecht MPL, the DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Social Development, laid an urgent complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in Johannesburg. The complaint specifically targets Minister Lindiwe Zulu, the Department of Social Development, SASSA, and Postbank for their roles in the ongoing social grant payment failures.
Addressing the Ongoing SASSA Grant Payment Crisis
In response to the persistent crisis surrounding the distribution of SASSA grants, the DA has taken a significant step by lodging a formal complaint with the SAHRC. This action is in reaction to the dire and systemic failures that have left the most vulnerable members of our society in a state of distress.
Defending Constitutional Rights
The DA’s complaint to the SAHRC is grounded in the fundamental principles enshrined in the South African Constitution, which unequivocally protect the rights and dignity of every citizen. The key issues central to our grievance encompass:
Section 10 – The Right to Human Dignity
Delayed grant payments have pushed the most economically disadvantaged among us into profound suffering, substantially impacting their human dignity.
Section 11 – The Right to Life
Delays in accessing funds for food and medicine have jeopardized the lives of grant recipients, making them vulnerable to malnutrition and illness.
Section 27 – The Right to Healthcare, Food, Water, and Social Security
The failure to ensure timely payments directly infringes upon citizens’ rights to social security, significantly affecting their ability to afford essential food and healthcare.
Section 28 – The Rights of Children
Grant payment failures disproportionately affect children, compromising their right to nutrition, shelter, basic health services, and social services.
The Department of Social Development Inadequacy
The ongoing crisis surrounding SASSA grant payments has underscored the Department of Social Development’s inability to address these pressing issues. It is evident that Minister Lindiwe Zulu and her department are struggling to provide the level of care and support that the most vulnerable members of our society require.
Advocating for Meaningful Change
The DA firmly believes that meaningful change can only be achieved through a government that is accountable, compassionate, and dedicated to the well-being of all its citizens. The recurring failures in the grant payment system emphasize the need for urgent reform.
Commitment to South Africans
As we file this complaint with the SAHRC, the DA reaffirms its commitment to advocating for a compassionate, efficient government that genuinely cares for its citizens. We believe that real progress can only be achieved through the support of the people combined with economic growth to empower people to be the authors of their own future and less dependent on the state.
Key Proposals to Address the Crisis
To address the concerns raised in our complaint and promote the well-being of South Africans, the DA outlines the following key proposals:
- Protecting Social Grants: Safeguarding social grants from corruption and increasing child support grants to match the official food poverty line.
- Supporting the Elderly: Promoting financial literacy, workplace pension schemes, and regulating old-age homes to protect against abuse.
- Addressing Unemployment: Investigating a Basic Income Guarantee, empowering the unemployed with cash transfers for basic services, and assessing improvements to the UIF system.
- Combatting Hunger: Expanding the list of VAT-exempt food items and supporting food gardens and hubs to foster self-reliance and reduce dependence on the state while addressing hunger and nutrition concerns.
Championing the Vulnerable
These policies represent our commitment to the most vulnerable in our society, ensuring they receive the support and protection they deserve. We urge all citizens to reflect on these systemic issues as they prepare to cast their votes in the upcoming election.
Who Looks After the Vulnerable in South Africa?
The question remains: Who looks after the vulnerable in South Africa? Who cares for the mother forced to abandon her babies due to a “glitch” in the system? The DA will continue to champion the cause of the most vulnerable and work tirelessly to ensure a brighter and more secure future for all.