Oliphant was trying to confuse Sassa issue – 702 station manager
Cape Town – 702 station manager Thabisile Mbete believes Department of Social Development spokesperson Lumka Oliphant was trying to complicate a discussion about Sassa on Monday when she refused to conduct an interview in English.
"We feel that her decision to speak in isiZulu was nothing more than an attempt to obfuscate the actual issue under discussion," Mbete said in a statement.
Oliphant was scheduled to speak to 702 presenter Xolani Gwala about the Constitutional Court deadline of March 31 when the department will be required to insource all social grant payments.
If the department is unable to come up with a solution by the end of March, 17 million recipients might not receive a grant come April.
During their interview, Gwala asked Oliphant to respond in English for "the benefit of our listeners".