SASSA tender: Hawks must investigate R1.4 million kickback
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will be asking the Hawks to investigate allegations of kickbacks paid to the Human Settlements Director-General, Mr Thabane Zulu, in an attempt to buy his influence in the awarding of the infamous R10 billion tender to distribute social grants.
On the 1st of April, the Sunday Independent revealed that Mr Zulu, who was a member of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) tender adjudication committee, received a R1.4 million deposit into his personal account a few weeks before deliberations on the bid commenced. It was also revealed that a committee member, whose name was not given, received a R600 000 payment towards his mortgage bond soon after the contract was awarded to Cash Paymaster Systems (CPS).
Mr Zulu has denied any wrongdoing and invited any person or group to conduct an investigation.
I will take Mr Zulu up on that offer.
I will today be writing to the Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation ("The Hawks"), Lieutenant General Anwa Dramat, to request an investigation into these allegations.
Social grants provide an essential safety net to more than 15 million needy South Africans. The needs of poor South Africans should be paramount in decisions around how this process will be managed. The SASSA tender is already the subject of a court case questioning the legitimacy of the bid process.
The Hawks have to investigate these new allegations that officials are enriching themselves at the expense of the most vulnerable members of our society.
Statement issued by Mike Waters MP, DA Shadow Minister of Social Development, April 4 2012
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