Cape Town – Lumka Oliphant has been dismissed as the Department of Social Development’s Head of Communication after being accused of leaking details about Minister Sisisi Tolashe’s R3 million New York trip to the media.
According to a dismissal letter dated October 17, 2025, Director-General Peter Netshipale said Oliphant was found guilty of misconduct after she failed to respond to the charges or submit mitigating representations, IOL reported.
“To give effect to your right to procedural fairness, I invited you to make representations in relation to the charges. You have elected to leave the charges unchallenged and undisputed. You were further informed that you were found guilty of misconduct and requested to respond in mitigation of your sentence. You also elected to disregard such an opportunity to mitigate,” the report quoted the letter as saying.
“Your election has left me with no choice but to dismiss you from your employment as Chief Director: Communication for the Department of Social Development,” read the letter.
She was instructed to return all departmental property.
Former Social Development Department communicator Lumka Oliphant confirms her dismissal from the post. She has been at odds with Minister Sisisi Tolashe for some time. Oliphant joins #Newzroom405‘s @sehume_n.
Watch: https://t.co/wX3zP2wTuw pic.twitter.com/I120fKfWzS
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) October 17, 2025
Oliphant, who had been on precautionary suspension with full pay, denied the allegations, claiming her dismissal was politically motivated.
She alleged that Minister Tolashe targeted her due to internal departmental conflicts and her past working relationship with former minister Bathabile Dlamini, and accused ministerial advisor Ngwako Kgatla of influencing decisions against her.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
