Dlamini says sorry after ConCourt's Sassa ruling

Minister of Social Development Bathabile Dlamini says she will respect and adhere to the ruling made by the Constitutional Court this morning.

She said her staff were still studying the judgment‚ but she was pleased for the people of South Africa.

Speaking at a stakeholder engagement meeting in Kempton Park‚ she assured all present that grants would be paid come April 1.

• Zuma should recall Bathabile Dlamini and Pravin Gordhan‚ says KZN student leaderPresident Jacob Zuma should recall‚ with immediate effect‚ both Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.

The Constitutional Court ruled this morning that the contract between Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) and the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) would be extended for 12 months‚ under stringent conditions.

Dlamini also said that when she appeared before Parliament on Tuesday‚ she missed an opportunity.

• Task team to probe social grants crisis will include Bathabile DlaminiThe Cabinet has approved the establishment of a ministerial task team to investigate the social grants crisis‚ which is awaiting the outcome of a Constitutional Court judgement to determine the way forward.

“I have a close friend‚ a young man who always listens when I speak and he will phone me if I say something wrong‚” Dlamini said.

“He called me on Tuesday‚ and told me I had missed an important opportunity‚ to say sorry. The first thing I was supposed to do‚ is to apologise to South Africans. And I thought that was profound. I also want to again repeat‚ I am so sorry.”