Overview
- South Africa’s Social Development Ministry accused former spokesperson Lumka Oliphant of running a coordinated misinformation campaign, and Oliphant responded by urging Minister Sisisi Tolashe to resign.
- The department said it is fixing administrative lapses, called for journalistic restraint and due process, and pledged to give a full account to Parliament at an appropriate time.
- Recent investigations allege Tolashe failed to declare two luxury SUVs presented as ANC Women’s League donations that were used by her children, placed an adviser with disputed credentials, and benefited from a state-paid worker stationed at her private home.
- Opposition parties escalated accountability steps, with ActionSA opening a criminal corruption case and filing complaints to the Public Protector and Parliament’s Ethics Committee, while the DA moved to have Tolashe appear before the Social Development committee.
- The stakes are high because the department oversees SASSA grants and a large social budget, and the Executive Ethics Code requires prior approval for gifts above R1,000, which could guide forthcoming ethics reviews and parliamentary scrutiny.