President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe from her position with immediate effect.
In a short statement released today, the Presidency did not reveal reasons for the dismissal of Tolashe and instead announced her temporary replacement to ensure continuity at the department.
“In the interim, President Ramaphosa has appointed Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga as the acting minister in the portfolio pending a full-time appointment in due course,” read the statement.
According to the Presidency, Tolashe’s dismissal is in terms of Section 91(2), which empowers the President to appoint and dismiss members of the Cabinet at his/her discretion.
Tolashe has been accused of abusing her office, misusing state-funded personnel for private household purposes and misleading Parliament’s ethics committee, among other allegations.
Opposition parties have accused her of lying about the use and registration of two vehicles donated to the ANC Women’s League, which were registered in the names of her children.
Tolashe, who is also the president of the ANC Women’s League, has also been accused of improperly hiring officials and exploiting department officials for private household purposes.
