Former Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini, under whom millions of beneficiaries faced the possibility of not receiving their social grants, should shoulder the responsibility of the SA Social Services Agency (Sassa) crisis, an inquiry heard on Monday.

Richard Solomon, for former Sassa chief executive Thokozani Magwaza, told retired Judge Bernard Ngoepe that Dlamini sought to absolve herself from taking responsibility and went as far as blaming his client for the debacle.

"We submit that Magwaza and [former director general and adviser Zane] Dangor, in contrast to her evidence, were forthcoming and very clear. Their evidence is corroborated by objective evidence in the form of minutes of meetings, and documentation that are in reality, destructive of the minister's evidence," said Solomon.

"The minister has to shoulder and bear the responsibility for the Sassa crisis. Her job was to ensure that Sassa takes over payments, there was a great failure on her part."

The Constitutional Court-mandated inquiry is investigating whether Dlamini should be held liable for the legal costs incurred in the protracted Sassa debacle. Legal representatives presented their closing arguments on Monday.

Ngoepe is heading the inquiry.

Dlamini, who has since been appointed Minister for Women, knew about controversial work streams that were set up in 2015 but withheld such information from the Constitutional Court, said Solomon.

''She ran Sassa almost like a shop, holding meetings at her home with no minutes of most these meetings. It is very astonishing that a minister who takes a work seriously would hold such meetings that have no paper trail whatsoever...that raises eyebrows.''

Vincent Maleka, representing Dangor, said Dlamini's non-disclosure on the role of the work streams carried serious consequences.

"The reasons advanced by the minister for the non-disclosure are hopelessly inadequate. The reason behind that was for her to avoid personal liability at all costs," he said.