Social grants update
- Lee-Anne Bruce
The Inquiry into Minister Bathabile Dlamini's involvement in the social grants crisis is set to begin on 22 January 2018
Yesterday, the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS), along with the legal representatives for Freedom Under Law, the Minister for Social Development, SASSA and CPS met with Judge Bernard Ngoepe at the Office of the Chief Justice in Midrand. Judge Ngoepe was appointed by the Constitutional Court as the referee for the Section 38 Inquiry established to investigate any remaining issues relating to the case CALS brought in March this year to ensure the social grant system is protected.
The Inquiry's main focus is to investigate whether the Minister of Social Development should be liable for the legal costs of the case in her personal capacity. CALS and the other legal representatives agreed on procedural issues such as the timeframes for the request and submission of documents and a date for the Inquiry.
The Inquiry will be held between 22 and 26 January 2018 most likely at the Office of the Chief Justice