Pretoria - Chief Executive Officer of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) Fezile Makiwane has been given special leave pending the outcomes of an investigation into alleged irregularities.
In a statement on Thursday, the Department Social Development said that the Minister Edna Molewa and Mr Makiwane had mutually agreed that he should go on special leave following a probe by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) into alleged misuse of funds managed by pay point service providers at SASSA.
Mr Makiwane, whose leave started on Wednesday, was also informed of possible disciplinary measures against him.
"We will follow up the allegations made by the SIU and I applaud the CEO for recusing himself from all aspects of the organisation to ensure the smooth running of the probe," said Minister Molewa.
She said it was important to point out that no one had been found guilty of any misconduct at this point and that Mr Makiwane is innocent until proven otherwise.
The process to appoint an acting CEO has commenced and will make an announcement shortly. The acting CEO will lead the team that will oversee the investigation.
Tabling her Budget Vote to the National Assembly in Cape Town earlier this month, Ms Molewa warned that the department would continue its fight against fraud and corruption in the grants administration system in partnerships with the Special Investigation Unit.
She said by the end of this year the department would have brought to book 2000 civil servants who were found to have defrauded the grant system.
Aside from continuing to bring to book civil servants who were found to have defrauded the grant system, the department will also investigate individuals in private sector who are defrauding the grant system for their own benefit.
"We will continue the work done by SASSA and the SIU to fight against fraud and corruption in the grants administration system, I call upon all members of society to work with us and report incidences of fraud and corruption in the social grants system," she said.
