Publications
Cape Town – President Jacob Zuma on Saturday announced that he will lead the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on social security, which is focusing on grant reforms.
"The [committee] will focus on comprehensive social security reforms with a view to addressing the gaps and weaknesses identified and ensuring the provision of a comprehensive social security for all," he said in a statement.
"We are proud of our social assistance system and will continue working hard to strengthen it to ensure that it plays its role of alleviating poverty and providing support to orphans and vulnerable children, military veterans, older persons and persons with disabilities," Zuma said.
The committee currently consists of Social Development Minister Dlamini, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters and Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi.
Zuma said Telecommunications Minister Siyabonga Cwele, Communications Minister Faith Muthambi and Home Affairs minister Malusi Gigaba will now also sit on the committee.
Zuma said he welcomed the Constitutional Court ruling on Friday that Cash Paymaster Systems (CPS) continue distributing social grants for a year, after the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) was unable to insource the services.
"I want to assure all grant beneficiaries that government will implement the directive of the Constitutional Court and uphold the constitutional rights of the poor and vulnerable in our society," he said.
*This story has been corrected to say that President Jacob Zuma will be leading the team, and NOT that he would be co-chairing it with Minister Bathabile Dlamini.
