Cape Town – The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for a parliamentary investigation into Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe over allegations that public servants were used for domestic work at her home.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, DA spokesperson on social development Nazley Sharif said the party had written to Parliament’s Public Service Committee requesting a formal inquiry.
The DA alleges that Tolashe may have employed public servants as nannies at her residence while her family allegedly took a portion of their state-funded salaries.
“This would be a disgraceful act of corruption. Appointing people to do household work, in the home of a Minister, at taxpayer expense, and then taking part of their salary, is the very definition of corruption,” Sharif said.
She further claimed that such conduct would also violate labour laws. “It is also illegal to summarily fire such an employee, without any labour law process, on a whim,” she added.
Multiple allegations
Sharif accused the minister of being embroiled in multiple controversies, including allegations of failing to disclose vehicles donated by a foreign embassy, misleading Parliament, and interfering in senior appointments.
“Minister Sisisi Tolashe lurches from scandal to scandal,” Sharif said, adding that the Department of Social Development was failing vulnerable South Africans.
The DA said it believes it is “untenable” for Tolashe to remain in office and has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to act.
“The pressure on President Ramaphosa to fire Tolashe is now at a critical level,” Sharif said.
She warned that allowing the minister to remain in her position without a parliamentary inquiry would be unacceptable, citing what she described as “multiple allegations” against her.
The Presidency and the Department of Social Development have not yet responded to the DA’s claims.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
