English and Afrikaans soundbite by Jan de Villiers MP.
Today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) laid criminal charges against Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe for deliberately deceiving authorities for her personal gain. See photos here, here, here and here.
The latest unjustifiable scandal surrounding Minister Tolashe involves motor cars she and her family have been using allegedly donated by a Chinese delegation.
Two scenarios exist: Firstly, the vehicles were donated to the Minister personally, and she failed to disclose this donation to Parliament and subsequently lied to Parliament about the alleged non-disclosure.
Secondly, that the vehicles were donated to the ANCWL, and that the Minister fraudulently registered these vehicles in the names of her children to shield the assets from attachment by creditors of the ANC.
We have provided the SAPS with sufficient evidence that warrants investigation.
The DA views these allegations in an extremely serious light. Any attempt to deceive Parliament or manipulate creditors for personal or improper gain represents a direct assault on the rule of law.
Public office bearers must be held to the highest ethical and legal standards, and any breach of these standards must face consequences.
The specific charges are:
Lying to Parliament: potential offence of fraud and potential statutory offence under Section 27 of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliaments and Provincial Legislatures Act 4 of 2004.
Fraudulent registration of vehicles: potential statutory offence under sections 4; 89 and regulation 3 of the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 and the potential offence of theft.
The DA has already acted against Tolashe, including filing an Ethics Committee complaint over allegedly misleading Parliament about the appointment of her Director-General, and a Public Protector complaint involving the same official. We also wrote to the President to clarify whether the Minister obtained the required approval to accept and retain two luxury motor cars. We will also ask questions about the proceeds of the sale of the motor vehicles and where the money is.
She will have to account both to Parliament in the course of a full inquiry and to those investigating authorities.
We demand a full and independent investigation so that the full might of the law is brought to bear.