Social Development Minister Sisi Tolashe has been axed from her job.
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President Cyril Ramaphosa has bowed to pressure from the DA and ActionSA and removed Sisisi Tolashe as Minister of Social Development in a sudden Cabinet shake-up announced on Thursday.
In a statement released by the Presidency, Ramaphosa confirmed that Tolashe was dismissed in terms of Section 91(2) of the Constitution, which gives the president authority to appoint and remove ministers.
Ramaphosa’s decision to dismiss Tolashe follows mounting pressure from political parties calling for her removal over allegations linked to two luxury vehicles reportedly intended for the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL).
The vehicles - a white and a yellow BAIC Beijing X55 SUV - are each valued at between R400,000 and R500,000, bringing their combined estimated value to nearly R1 million.
Tolashe is accused of receiving SUVs allegedly donated by Chinese representatives in late 2023 for the ANCWL.
They were allegedly registered in the names of Tolashe’s children.
Action SA and the Democratic Alliance (DA) opened criminal cases at a Cape Town police station. They approached Parliament’s portfolio committee to request an inquiry into allegations of maladministration within Tolashe’s department.
According to reports, DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis wrote to Ramaphosa on April 30 demanding that the president fire Tolashe.
On Thursday, Ramaphosa bent the knee, although the Presidency did not provide reasons for her removal.
Ramaphosa’s decision to dismiss Tolashe follows mounting pressure from political parties calling for her removal over allegations linked to two luxury vehicles reportedly intended for the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL).
Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has been appointed acting Minister of Social Development until a permanent replacement is named.
The move places fresh attention on leadership within the Social Development Department, which oversees critical welfare programmes affecting millions of South Africans.
Tolashe, an ANC Women’s League President, had recently faced growing scrutiny over allegedly registering donated vehicles to the league under her children’s names.
DA national spokesperson Jan de Villiers previously said the charges include allegedly lying to Parliament - a potential offense of fraud and a violation under Section 27 of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act - as well as fraudulent vehicle registration under the National Road Traffic Act and possible theft.
ActionSA MP Dereleen James also filed criminal charges against Tolashe, accusing her of misleading Parliament about the source and use of the vehicles allegedly donated to the ANCWL.
James additionally lodged complaints with the Public Protector and Parliament’s Ethics Committee, alleging breaches of the Executive Members’ Ethics Act and the Code of Conduct.
Additional allegations against Tolashe involve the extension of her department director-general’s contract and the appointment of 22-year-old Lesedi Mabiletja as acting chief of staff.
Mabiletja is the niece of Tolashe’s special adviser, Ngwako Kgatla.
However, she denied any involvement, saying the department made the appointments.
She is also facing accusations linked to a state-funded food aide who worked at her private home in the Eastern Cape instead of her official residences in Pretoria or Cape Town.
The aide allegedly paid half of her R15,000 monthly salary to Tolashe’s daughter for household expenses.
Tolashe said she had no role in that arrangement.
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