Minister of Social Development is not returning to parliament

Following the ANC’s inability to win a majority vote in the 29 May election, the custodian of SASSA grants for the last five years, Minister Lindiwe Zulu, will not be returning to the National Assembly. We have already covered uncertainty over the future of South African Social Security Agency grants in light of a soon-to-be-ratified government of national unity. This is even though June 2024 SASSA grant payments appear to have gone off unaffected.

CUSTODIAN OF SASSA GRANTS

Nevertheless, the Minister of Social Development and custodian of SASSA grants, was one of the names missing from the ANC’s list of public representatives submitted to Chief Justice Raymond Zondo last week, reports The Citizen. Of course, she’s not the only one. Here are the other high-profile ANC ministers who will no longer participate in parliament:  

• Minister of Police, Bheki Cele.
• Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and People with Disabilities, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
• Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thandi Modise.
• Minister of Public Service and Administration, Noxolo Kiviet.
• Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel.
• Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan.
• Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor.
• Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi.
• Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa.

GAVE HER YOUTH TO THE ANC

In response to the news of her axing from parliament, Zulu said: “I gave my youth and adult life for a free, democratic and non-racial South Africa. In or out of government, my commitment remains the same. To those celebrating my ousting, you are the ones out. I’ve been in, long before your celebration of my out. I’m here for life until the black majority celebrates true freedom. Aluta Continua,” Concluded Zulu.

Before her appointment as custodian of SASSA grants, she was the Minister of Small Business Development from 2014 to 2019. During her tenure she oversaw the introduction of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, she worked to increase said SRD from R350 to R370 this year, in the build-up to the ANC’s disastrous election campaign. She also pushed hard to realise a Basic Income Grant, which the ANC claimed was just two-years away (2026).