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The United Democratic Movement (UDM) finds the revelations by the Sunday Times on 12 March 2017, as damning on the part of the President, Mr. Jacob Zuma and the Minister of Social Development, Ms. Bathabile Dlamini.

The Minister, on the basis of an unsolicited advice, from the President’s Special and Legal Adviser, Mr Michael Hulley, and against the concerns and protestations by the officials of both the Social Development Department and the South Africa Social Security Agency (Sassa), undermined and defied a sound legal advice from one of the most renowned legal minds in South Africa, Advocate Wim Trengove SC as well as other independent lawyers. 

The arrogance displayed by the Minister since this chaos came to the public, as well as the un-invited intervention by Mr Hulley, suggests that the President’s hand is at the centre of the crisis that face the millions of poor South Africans.

The big question is who mandated Mr Hulley to attend the meetings not invited and not welcome to. His boss, the President must answer this. The State Law Advisers seem to not have been involved throughout this process, yet Mr Hulley is spending time doing what he is not appointed to do. One would have expected the State Law and internal departmental and Sassa legal advisers to advise the department instead Mr Hulley.

It is very clear, that the Minister and the Office of the President has a direct interest in making sure that Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) contract is extended regardless of the legalities and the order of the highest court of the land, the Constitutional Court.

This is another clear manipulation of process intended to grossly undermine the rule of law and accountability. The centrality of the President through his adviser means the President is part of this chaos. We are not surprised about his recent response to the loud calls by South Africans, to release the dubious Minister from her responsibilities and put citizens first.

The fact that the President has decided to side with the Minister means he too, is at fault.

Clearly, the President and his Minister are showing South Africans, the Constitutional Court and in particular the social grants beneficiaries a middle figure.

For this reason, the UDM calls for the immediate resignation of both President Zuma and Minister Dlamini. If the ANC as it has always been the case, fail to remove these dubious individuals, the citizens of the South Africa must vote the ANC out of power in 2019 for its failure to put South Africa First.

The ANC has always put itself and its corrupt leader above the interest of South Africans including the poorest of the poor. It speaks volumes of words in favour of the people yet its actions are against the people. Even this morning the ANC has been on the National Television launching the so-called new policy proposal yet their President and his faction are busy with factional battles and bankrupting the country.

Issued by UDM