By Nicole McCain.
The CEO of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), Busisiwe Memela-Khambula, has been placed on precautionary suspension while a probe into her appointment takes place.
Social Development Minister Nokuzola Tolashe said the precautionary suspension was “prompted by the need to conduct an investigation without hindrance or interference”.
She added that the investigation had stemmed from “a myriad of serious issues” raised by the Public Protector.
Tolashe said that “all the decisions that have been taken are to steer Sassa in the right direction” and were “in the best interest of the millions of beneficiaries that depend on social assistance”.
“Whilst we deal with a lot of challenges facing Sassa, we want to take decisive decisions that will ensure that our work is transparent, effective and efficient and we have an organisation that will assist in fighting hunger and poverty in our country,” she added.
Themba Matlou, Sassa regional executive manager for Gauteng, has since been appointed as the Acting CEO until the matter involving Memela-Khambula has been concluded.
Last year, City Press reported that the Public Protector had launched an investigation into then Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu’s alleged improper conduct and transgressions of the executive ethics code.
Zulu was also accused of irregularly appointing several senior managers in the department who were facing allegations of serious misconduct and failing to implement recommendations of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
Among the complaints against Zulu was that she had failed to act against Memela-Khambula, after the SIU recommended that disciplinary action be taken against her, in connection with the irregular procurement and distribution of food parcels in the Eastern Cape.