It’s become the proverbial elephant in the room. Some may even say it’s become a white elephant. Yet, the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) is a lifeline to 17 million South Africans.

Its ability to carry out its mandate was severely questioned when the Constitutional Court ruled – on 17 March – that a disputed contract (worth R10 billion when it was awarded in 2012) would continue for another year, but with strict provisions.