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The state blocked the payment of the pension of former social development minister Bathabile Dlamini after an instruction from the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), the department of justice and constitutional development revealed on Wednesday.
The revelation comes days after the Sunday Times reported that Dlamini, who resigned from parliament in 2019, was unable to pay part of the legal costs to two NGOs that won a landmark social grants case against him in 2018 due to the lockdown of his ministerial pension.
Dlamini told the publication that he did not know why. However, the department has since refuted the claim.
“The information before the attorney general reveals that Sassa received the instruction to withhold the payment of the former minister’s pension. The former minister and Sassa are well aware of the reasons for the withdrawal of the pension. So far, neither party has contested this nor has there been any intention to do so.
“The state attorney acts according to the instructions of his client, which are the state departments and entities he represents. This particular matter is being litigated by the parties, including the former minister, ”said department spokesman Stephen Mahlangu.
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