Zoleka Qodashe13 December 2024 | 13:00

SCA orders former Social Development minister Bathabile Dlamini to pay back R2 million to SASSA

This after Dlamini instructed former SASSA CEO, Virginia Petersen to procure protection services for the former minister's children and spokesperson, Lumka Oliphant and her children in 2014.

SCA orders former Social Development minister Bathabile Dlamini to pay back R2 million to SASSA

Picture: Barbara Maregele/GroundUp

JOHANNESBURG - The Supreme Court of Appeal has ordered former Social Development Minister, Bathabile Dlamini to pay back R2 million to the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).

This after Dlamini instructed former SASSA CEO, Virginia Petersen to procure protection services for the former minister's children and spokesperson, Lumka Oliphant and her children in 2014.

In total, almost R3.5 million was paid by SASSA, of that amount, over R2 million was for protection services for Dlamini's children, and over R1.4 million was for Oliphant and her children.

Dlamini, Petersen and Oliphant sought to appeal the order of the Gauteng High Court that ordered them to pay back the money.

READ: SASSA CEO Memela-Khambula suspended pending probe into her appointment

The appellate court has found that the former minister acted outside her powers when she required Petersen to procure, through SASSA, the services rendered by Vuco Security Solutions for her and Oliphant’s protection and the protection of their children.

It said the SASSA Act does not empower the agency to procure such services to protect officials who are employed by another department of state.

It added that it was for Dlamini to exercise her executive authority over the department, to protect officials and their families.

Therefore, the court found that Dlamini acted unlawfully when she used her authority to secure a benefit for herself which amounted to a clear abuse of power.