Deputy Chair, I would like to move without notice:
That the Council -
1) notes that -
a) a total of 6 693 public servants were convicted for defrauding the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) with a savings value of R 7,7 billion by the end of December 2007;
b) about 5 391 disciplinary case files of public servants convicted of defrauding the Sassa have been handed over to their respective national and provincial departments for disciplinary action to be taken; and
c) in April 2005, hon Minister Skweyiya tasked the Special Investigating Unit to investigate fraud, corruption and maladministration which then plagued the social grant system, and that the unit discovered people with permanent positions in the Public Service deliberately misrepresenting their positions so as to obtain social grants;
2) further notes the reaffirmation of the ANC's 52nd conference, held in Polokwane last year, that central to the task of social transformation of the South African society is the role of the government in confronting the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment, and that our grant system has been instrumental in this regard; and
3) takes this opportunity to call on all people of South Africa to work with the various structures of government that are working tirelessly to address the problem of abuse and draining the resources intended for addressing the challenges of poverty in our country.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.