Minister Bathabile Dlamini was not willing to take questions regarding the payment of Sassa grants in Parliament on Tuesday.
Dlamini claimed ordinary South Africans were being confused by the "prophets of doom", as well as those wishing to appear as "moral saviours" and "deepen the crisis at Sassa".
"I would like to reiterate the assurance of President Jacob Zuma that there is no crisis at Sassa," Dlamini then told MPs.
"All eligible social grants beneficiaries will receive their money on April 1 and beyond."
- We didn’t have enough time – Sassa attorneyThe attorney for SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) and Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini has responded to a directive from the Chief Justice asking for an explanation on why a deadline to file papers on Monday was not met.
The EFF's Moses Sipho Mbatha rose and asked if she would take a question.
Dlamini responded saying "No."
She responded the same way when another Parliamentarian asked if she would answer questions.
The EFF criticised the minister, saying that her refusal to answer questions violated the house's right to hold her accountable.
While the minister was clear that grants would be paid on 1 April, Cash Paymaster Services were somewhat less certain, telling the Constitutional Court in an affidavit that 12 business days were needed to prepare for payments.
- Minister, there is a grants crisisThere will be no social grants-payments to more than 11million desperately poor people on April 1 unless a deal is struck with Cash Paymaster Services today.
"This effectively means that all negotiations and contract finalisation need to be completed by no later than March 15," he said in the affidavit.
IFP MP Liezel van der Merwe meanwhile delivered all the heat on the social grants fiasco in Parliament on Tuesday:
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 