By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Social development minister Sisisi Tolashe has admitted that the appointment of a 22-year-old, Lesedi Mabiletja as Chief of Staff lacked transparency.
Tolashe appeared before Parliament’s portfolio committee on Social Development on Thursday.
A preliminary investigation revealed misrepresentation and dishonesty on her CV and serious procedural irregularities in her appointment.
She attributed the blame to the former chief of staff for facilitating the appointment.
However in a meeting held on 1 August 2024, DSD’s top officials, including deputy minister Ganief Hendricks, were told that Mabiletja did not meet the requirements for the post.
But acting DG Peter Netshipale proceeded to approve Mabiletja’s appointment regardless.
Mabiletja holds a National Diploma (NQF level 6), whilst the prescribed educational entry requirement for the position as per the job description for the post is a qualification at NQF level 7 plus five years’ experience at middle/senior management level.
The HR document warns that this “non-compliance to the regulatory prescripts” – in other words, irregular appointment – risks a negative audit finding.
Tolashe also claimed that reports on controversial appointments in her department, is an attempt to damage her reputation and destabilise the department.
“By extension, they also been deliberately made to disparage and divert public attention from our concerted efforts to stablise the DSD [Department of Social Development] portfolio and root out bad apples in the system,” the minister said.
The Organisation for Human Rights RSA also stood up for Tolashe, blasting the media for “sensationalist” stories that sow doubt without facts.
South Africa needs fearless journalism. But we also need responsible journalism: reporting that separates allegations from facts.” They say stories built on hints risk turning probes into witch hunts, especially against women.
Daily Maverick, who broke the story, reported that Mabiletja is the niece of Tolashe’s special advisor, Ngwako Kgatla, who was receiving two government salaries simultaneously and no action was taken against him.
In response, Tolashe said her department has no authority to institute disciplinary proceedings against Kgatla as he’s not an employee under the Public Service Act.
Tolashe said the matter has now been referred to the Department of Women and Youth, where the misconduct is reported to have taken place.
It has since emerged that Tolashe has a romantic relationship with Kgatla and it was an open secret within her department.
While the idea of a romantic liaison between a 65-year-old minister and her 32-year-old special adviser may seem far-fetched, evidence shows that Tolashe has gone to some lengths to keep Kgatla working close to her over the past two years.
The tension within the department comes at a time of increasing political pressure over fraud and dysfunction at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), which falls under the same ministry.
Earlier in the year the Democratic Alliance (DA) escalated its call for a full Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe into widespread fraud within the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant system.