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Bathabile Dlamini’s perjury court case postponed to October

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The perjury case against former Social Development Minister and African National Congress Women’s League President Bathabile Dlamini has been postponed to the 1st of October in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.

The case relates to the SASSA Inquiry where Cash Paymaster Services failed to pay grants to millions of beneficiaries. She was accused of deliberately making false statements under oath during the inquiry.

Her lawyer Advocate Tshepiso Mphahlane says despite the postponement, his client wants to see the matter speedily resolved.

Magistrate Maggie Khumalo warned her to not miss her next court appearance.

“You are accordingly warned to be back here on the 1st of October at 08H30 mam and to remain in attendance until your matter is called and dealt with. Failure to appear has consequences, a warrant of arrest may be authorised against you. You may lose your bail money to the state and so you can be kept in custody until your matter is finalised therefore you are accordingly warned thank you.”

Dlamini accused of perjury

The charges relate to her testimony during an inquiry the Constitutional Court instituted into her role in the 2017 social grants crisis.

The head of the inquiry, Justice Bernard Ngoepe, said Dlamini lied about her role in the Cash Paymaster Services saga.

In 2018, the civil society movement, Freedom Under Law, said it felt vindicated by the Constitutional Court judgment.

The court had ordered Dlamini to personally pay 20% of the legal costs of the court application by Black Sash and Freedom Under Law regarding the Sassa debacle.

The court also referred Dlamini to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for prosecution over suspicions that she lied under oath in her submissions to the court, as well as during the inquiry.

“Whilst we’re elated, I think it’s vindication for accountability,” says Freedom Under Law’s Chief Executive Officer Nicole Fritz.

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