SASSA spends half a million on function while grant beneficiaries suffer
4 June 2023
It seems the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, is trying to downplay the R1.5 million the SASSA Free State Regional Office spent on its international women’s day event on 28 March 2023.
In answer [https://pmg.org.za/committee-question/22261/] to a written parliamentary question from the DA, the Minister revealed that SASSA saw fit to squander more than R185 000 on a venue, more than R43 000 on a sound and PA system, and almost R228 000 on the catering. A further R32 000 went to the service fees for the travel agent.
It is puzzling why SASSA and the Minister has qualms in revealing how the R1 million for gifts were spent. Instead of providing the necessary information, they simply stated that “SASSA Free State did not procure gifts from the budget of the institution”.
The DA has thus submitted further questions to ascertain from which budget SASSA procured the gifts for the event, the nature and number of the gifts, and their total cost.