Sisisi Tolashe (Photo: Government website)
Sisisi Tolashe, minister of social development, is properly getting wind of the two sports utility vehicles worth R1 million that she apparently received without declaring it and which are apparently registered in her children’s names.
The ANC is waiting for a report from Tolashe and according to Fikile Mbalula, secretary general of the party, Tolashe will be punished if she has breached the code of ethics for ministers.
The DA has meanwhile written to the chairman of the parliamentary portfolio committee on social development and requested a committee investigation following a series of serious allegations involving Tolashe.
Die Sunday Times reported at the weekend that Tolashe told the ANC’s integrity commission that she protected ANC assets when she decided to keep two sport utility vehicles donated to the ANC women’s league in 2023 and instead register them in the names of her children.
According to Nazley Sharif, DA MP and the party’s spokesperson on social development, there is a letter to pres. Directed Cyril Ramaphosa to determine whether Tolashe requested presidential permission to accept and retain the sport utility vehicles.
Sharif believes that the issue regarding the sport utility vehicles demands a complete and transparent investigation under oath.
“This is the latest in a series of allegations against Tolashe. Given the seriousness and number of allegations against one minister, it is essential that the minister must account to parliament during a full investigation.”
According to the DA, other allegations against Tolashe include the illegal appointment and disciplining of the department’s director-general, the alleged protection of the minister’s preferred special adviser from liability and disciplinary processes despite allegations of serious misconduct, and the illegal appointment of an unqualified and unsuitable individual in the minister’s office.
“Collectively, these cases point to a worrying pattern of behavior that requires urgent parliamentary investigation. The Department of Social Development plays a critical role in South Africa’s social protection system. With a budget of R294 billion and responsibility for the payment of social grants to millions of beneficiaries, instability and poor leadership in the department poses a direct risk to service delivery and constitutional obligations.”
Daily Maverick earlier reported that Tolashe told parliament in February that she had received two BAIC Beijing X55 SUVs as donations for the ANC Women’s League.