Minister Tolashe Under Fire Over Costly New York Trip
The Department of Social Development is facing intense scrutiny after spending a whopping R3 million on a trip to New York earlier this year. Minister Sisisi Tolashe and her officials were summoned before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee to explain the expenses incurred while attending the UN Women's Conference in March.
Bridget Masango, chairperson of the Social Development Portfolio Committee, expressed serious concerns about the delegation's size and the exorbitant costs. While the committee supports the department's participation in global events, the lack of proper planning and the last-minute nature of the trip raised eyebrows.
"It seems there was no proper planning, and they had to hop on planes at the last minute. The hotels were highly priced, and so were the flights. The portfolio committee has taken a dim view of this issue," Masango stated.
Irregularities in Minister Tolashe's Office Trigger Review
Adding to the pressure, the Department of Social Development is also reviewing appointments made in Minister Tolashe's office following reports of irregularities. Tolashe assured Parliament that she would not tolerate any breach of procedure or conduct that undermines public trust.
The department has promised to report back to Parliament's portfolio committee once investigations are complete. The issues under review include:
- The irregular appointment of an inexperienced personal assistant with a falsified CV.
- A former chief of staff who apparently acted without authority in making the appointment.
- A special advisor reported to be earning two government salaries.
Minister Tolashe has denied any wrongdoing and blamed her former chief of staff for the "irregular" appointment. She also clarified that there was no malice intended when Parliament was previously informed that Director-General Peter Netshipale had been appointed for five years, when in fact, Cabinet had only approved a year-long contract.