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The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) has written to Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng on issues around the Constitutional Court judgement on the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) in relation to its contract with Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) and the processes of securing a new and valid contract.

Scopa takes its constitutional mandate of exercising oversight over the executive very seriously, particularly in this instance, as resolving the current processing of grant payments remains a very important matter that affects the most vulnerable people of this country.

It is in this regard that Scopa has written to the Chief Justice to request the Committee to be provided with the names and contact details of the suitably qualified legal practitioners and technical experts who have been appointed to work together with the Auditor-General of South Africa as a panel to evaluate the implementation of grants during this 12-month period with the CPS contract.

This request is made so that Scopa may, if necessary, invite this panel to present on its findings and to provide any information that may be required by Scopa to fulfil its oversight function. Scopa has also requested to engage further on the implications of the judgement and how Scopa can assist in ensuring that the respondents comply with the order of the Court.

Scopa will have a follow-up meeting with Sassa on Tuesday, 16 May 2017, to engage further on these matters and on the irregular expenditure amounting to R1.1bn. Scopa has also invited Corruption Watch to be part of the meeting on Tuesday so that it can give more clarity on its court case with Sassa over the additional R316m irregularly paid to CPS.

Letter to Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng attached for reference.

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of Scopa, Mr Themba Godi