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The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) has received a letter from the Minister of Finance, Mr Pravin Gordhan, confirming his attendance at the meeting planned to discuss the Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) contract on Tuesday, 14 March 2017.

After meeting with the Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, on Tuesday last week, Scopa invited the Minister of Finance to give more clarity on issues relating to the contract from the National Treasury's perspective.

The Committee is satisfied with the early confirmation from the Minister of Finance, which will assist Scopa with preparatory work for the meeting. The Committee is looking forward to this engagement to get a complete picture of what led to this crisis and how it is being resolved.

Scopa remains desirous and confident that social grants will be paid on 01 April 2017. However, the Committee's main concern is whether that will be done following the prescripts of the laws governing public procurement or not. Scopa insists that those responsible for this crisis should be held accountable.

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of Scopa, Mr Themba Godi