Soundbite by Alexandra Abrahams MP.
- Minister Tolashe failed to uphold the standards of conduct expected of her.
- The DA has concluded that she lied to Parliament, potentially committing an offence.
- She has proven herself unfit to serve South Africa’s most vulnerable citizens.
On Friday the Democratic Alliance filed an ethics complaint against Minister for Social Development, Nokuzola Tolashe, for allegedly misleading Parliament.
Minister Tolashe contradicted a Cabinet resolution that the Director-General of Social Development, Peter Netshipale, should only be appointed for one year and thereby failed to uphold the standards of conduct expected of her.
By publishing a misleading response to a written parliamentary question and submitting a misleading report to the portfolio committee on Netshipale’s appointment, the DA has concluded that the Minister has lied to Parliament not once but twice which may constitute an offence.
The Minister has reportedly used her position to influenced hiring and recruitment processes by shielding her favoured special advisor, Ngwako Kgatla, from accountability and disciplinary processes. She then employed an unqualified and unsuitable person – Lesedi Mabiletja – to the position of Private and Appointment Secretary and Acting Chief of Staff, based on alleged favouritism and nepotism.
Minister Tolashe’s conduct, if true, amounts to a violation of the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Members Interest which all members of parliament and the executive are meant to be uphold. Minister Tolashe has brought Parliament and the Department of Social Development into disrepute and is not fit to hold her position and should be removed.
There is a serious crisis of leadership at the Department of Social Development, one of government’s most crucial departments with budget of R294 billion and responsible for the payment of social grants, which is detrimental to deliver on its core functions and mandate.
Minister Tolashe should be held to account for all the failures, and if she is found guilty by the ethics committee, the DA will be demanding serious accountability.