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President Ramaphosa fires Minister Sisisi Tolashe

todayMay 14, 2026 53

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Image credit: @SisisiTolashe

President Cyril Ramaphosa has fired Social Development Minister, Sisisi Tolashe, in the wake of mounting calls for her removal.

The President has now appointed Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, as acting minister in the portfolio pending a permanent appointment in due course.

Tolashe has been making headlines over her alleged involvement in the exploitation of a state-funded food aid worker, questionable appointments within her department and undisclosed donations.

She allegedly lied about the use of two luxury vehicles that had reportedly been donated to the African National Congress (ANC) Women’s League, which were later allegedly registered in her children’s names.

Tolashe has denied the allegations levelled against her, saying she was not aware of any financial arrangement involving her daughter, who reportedly lived with the aid worker.

This is despite pay slips indicating that the aid worker earned a net monthly salary of R15,814, while her bank records allegedly show that only half was received, with the remainder transferred to Tolashe’s daughter.

ActionSA Member of Parliament, Dereleen James, says it’s time for Tolashe to pay back the money.

“All those cooked CVs, all those fraudulent appointments, they need to pay back the money. We must have an ethical leader now heading up this department for the most vulnerable.”

“And just today, I was actually going to come with more receipts to show that this was not the only aid that she stole from. I’m still going to present it to the House. They need to know the kind of leadership that gets sent to serve South Africans.”

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    President Ramaphosa fires Minister Sisisi Tolashe Lindiwe Mpanza

Democratic Alliance leader, Geordin Hill-Lewis, says Tolashe’s position in Cabinet was untenable, saying the President has done the right thing.

“The DA will always champion accountability, integrity and clean government,” he said. “South Africans deserve a competent and credible Minister who can lead this critical department with integrity, stability and a clear focus on serving vulnerable people who depend on its support.”

Meanwhile, African Transformation Movement (ATM) Member of Parliament, Vuyolwethu Zungula, says the President should have actually fired himself.

“He can’t be saying that there’s something wrong by the former minister when it comes that he’s committed greater crimes because with the minister there is no constitutional court order that is saying she must be impeached. But when it comes to the President, there’s an actual constitutional court order that says he must be subjected to an impeachment process.”

“So if you look at the two, the former minister and Mr Ramaphosa, who has committed the greater sin? There’s no greater sin, as a public representative, as the person that sits in cabinet, than to violate the constitution.”

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    President Ramaphosa fires Minister Sisisi Tolashe Lindiwe Mpanza

The ANC’s national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, says the President’s decision demonstrates the seriousness with which the party and the head of state approach the fight against corruption, maladministration and ethical lapses within the state.

“Under President Ramaphosa’s leadership, the fight against corruption has moved beyond rhetoric into concrete action through strengthened law enforcement institutions, the signing of numerous SIU proclamations, support for independent investigations, and the implementation of organisational renewal processes aimed at building a capable, ethical and developmental state.”

Bhengu-Motsiri added that the the party remains resolute that public representatives and deployees of the movement must at all times embody the values, discipline and mission of the organisation.

Written by: Lindiwe Mpanza

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