The National Director of Public Prosecutions will now have to determine whether to prosecute Minister Bathabile Dlamini for perjury.
This follows the Constitutional Court ruling that she pays 20 percent of Black Sash and Freedom Under Law’s legal fees in the Sassa social grants saga.
The current social development minister, Sassa and its CEO will be paying 80 percent, which will ultimately be covered by the taxpayer.
Relying on a report compiled by Judge Bernard Ngoepe, the court found that Dlamini had withheld information.
She had also failed to disclose to tell the court that she not only constituted parallel work streams to move payments of social grants but that they also reported to her.
It is not clear how much Dlamini will have to pay.
CEO of Freedom Under Law, Nicole Fritz, said: “It is really difficult to quantify advocated will have to sit together and pull time sheets and 20% of that I wouldn’t be able to give a ball park figure.”
The Black Sash Trust which spearheaded the application, says this judgment holds power accountable.
“This judgment sets a precedence for departments where power is misused. It will serve as a deterrent,” said Black Sash regional manager Thandiwe Zulu.
The minister of women’s political career hangs in the balance, as opposition parties now want Dlamini to be held politically accountable and be dismissed from Cabinet.
Dlamini won’t be commenting on the judgment until her legal team has read and studied it.
Source: News24
