ActionSA has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to immediately fire Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe, accusing her of misleading Parliament over the origin and use of luxury vehicles allegedly linked to Chinese officials.
The demand, issued on Wednesday by ActionSA MP Dereleen James, raises the political temperature around Tolashe, who also serves as president of the ANC Women’s League, placing the controversy at the intersection of government accountability and party leadership.
At the centre of the storm are claims that two high-end vehicles, initially described by Tolashe as donations to the ANC Women’s League, were in fact used for the benefit of her daughters.
“ActionSA has requested that president Ramaphosa immediately fire Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe for blatantly lying to Parliament and engaging in an elaborate cover-up regarding luxury vehicles from Chinese officials,” James said.
The party said Tolashe had failed to respond to initial parliamentary questions about the vehicles, only to later claim they had been donated to the ANC when pressed again.
However, that explanation has come under scrutiny after senior ANC figures reportedly distanced the party from any knowledge of such a donation.
“If, as she claims, the vehicles were donated to the ANC, such a donation would have to be declared to the IEC,” James said, suggesting that no such declaration had been made.
The contradiction has fuelled allegations that the minister may have attempted to mislead Parliament to conceal the true nature of the vehicles.
“This makes it clear that the minister is attempting to cover up what appears to be the unlawful receipt of these vehicles, with serious consequences,” James said.
She added that the failure to disclose the vehicles to Parliament points to a deliberate effort to avoid scrutiny.
“Having regard to the fact that the vehicles were not declared by the Minister to Parliament, the facts point clearly to an attempt to mislead Parliament in order to conceal the receipt of these vehicles,” she said.
Beyond the question of disclosure, ActionSA has raised concerns about the propriety of a cabinet minister receiving luxury vehicles from foreign officials under any circumstances.
“The purpose of this apparent ‘gift’ requires urgent investigation, as it is highly irregular for a Minister to receive two luxury vehicles from foreign government officials,” James said.
She warned that misleading Parliament strikes at the heart of constitutional accountability.
“A minister who blatantly lies to Parliament commits an affront to the very institution constitutionally empowered to hold the executive to account,” she said.
ActionSA believes the allegations may carry criminal implications and has urged Ramaphosa to act swiftly if he is to preserve the integrity of his executive.
This is a developing story. Responses from the presidency and Tolashe will be published upon receipt.
- ActionSA has demanded President Cyril Ramaphosa fire Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe for allegedly misleading Parliament about luxury vehicles linked to Chinese officials.
- The controversy involves Tolashe initially claiming the vehicles were donated to the ANC Women’s League, but evidence suggests they were used by her daughters.
- Senior ANC figures have denied knowledge of any such donation, and no declaration of the vehicles to the IEC appears to have been made.
- ActionSA accuses Tolashe of attempting to cover up unlawful receipt of the vehicles and receiving luxury gifts from foreign officials, which raises concerns about ministerial propriety and constitutional accountability.
- The party urges urgent investigation and swift presidential action to uphold executive integrity, warning the matter may have criminal implications; official responses are pending.
ActionSA has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to immediately fire Social Development Minister Sisisi
At the centre of the storm are claims that two high-end vehicles, initially described by
“ActionSA has requested that president Ramaphosa immediately fire Social Development Minister Sisisi
However, that explanation has come under scrutiny after senior ANC figures reportedly distanced the party from any knowledge of such a donation.
“If, as she claims, the vehicles were donated to the ANC, such a donation would have to be declared to the IEC,” James said, suggesting that no such declaration had been made.
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“A minister who blatantly lies to Parliament commits an affront to the very institution constitutionally empowered to hold the executive to account,” she said.
ActionSA believes the allegations may carry criminal implications and has urged Ramaphosa to act swiftly if he is to preserve the integrity of his executive.
