Black Sash applauds Corruption Watch’s court victory against CPS.
2 October 2019
This week, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) dismissed the appeal lodged by Cash Paymaster Services (CPS), contesting a previous Pretoria High Court ruling that ordered it to pay back R316 million to South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA). The Black Sash applauds Corruption Watch for their efforts.
Corruption Watch argued last year in the High Court that the re-registration of beneficiaries was included in the RFP, contract and the Service Level Agreement concluded between the parties. No separate agreement or payment was therefore necessary.
After being unable to appeal the High Court ruling, CPS turned to the Supreme Court of Appeal. It contested that it would be unreasonable to pay the disputed R316 million to SASSA, and argued that its initial contract with SASSA excluded the registration of children.
In handing down judgement, the SCA confirmed that there was no lawful basis for the variation agreement between SASSA and CPS. Stating “the most concerning issues was that for the first time it appeared that CPS was aware the beneficiaries included children. Therefore there could not have been a variation agreement to include children when they had been included all along.”