Overview
- President Cyril Ramaphosa, who on Thursday removed Sisisi Tolashe from Social Development, named Sindisiwe Chikunga acting minister.
- Answering MPs on Friday, Ramaphosa said he would not disclose his reasons for the dismissal, citing executive convention.
- Key allegations include undeclared Chinese embassy SUVs registered in her children’s names and a state-paid “food aide” working as a nanny who allegedly handed half her salary to Tolashe’s daughter.
- Staffing concerns widened after reports that a 22-year-old with allegedly falsified credentials became chief of staff and, on 13 May, special adviser Ngwako Kgatla was suspended following a Public Service Commission finding that he falsified his CV.
- Opposition parties that filed criminal complaints welcomed the sacking and pressed for Public Protector and parliamentary cases to proceed, arguing the department must safeguard grants, pensioners, children and people with disabilities.