Constitutional Court in a corner on social grants
It needs to ensure grants are paid without condoning behaviour it has previously declared illegal, or enabling CPS to dictate terms — but one legal expert sees a possible way out
Damned if they do and damned if they don’t. This is the position many feel the Constitutional Court finds itself in after the social grants crisis was abandoned on its doorstep. Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) has emerged as the only likely party that will be able to continue the payment of South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) grants after April 1. The matter appeared before the country’s top court on Wednesday in a marathon session. The court heard submissions from lawyers representing‚ among others‚ CPS‚ Sassa and Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini‚ the South African Post Office‚ as well as civil rights organisations Corruption Watch and Black Sash. A ruling is due at 10am on Friday. "In a sense‚ the court is backed into a corner at this stage‚" said University of KwaZulu-Natal constitutional law expert Professor Warren Freedman. "I know the Post Office came along‚ but it seems to me the only option is really for CPS to continue paying out the grants‚ at least in ...
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