By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GalloImages.
The Department of Social Development (DSD) has confirmed the precautionary suspension of its spokesperson, Lumka Oliphant, following findings by the Auditor-General (AG).
In a statement on Monday, Director-General Peter Netshipale said the suspension was necessary to ensure the investigation proceeds without interference.
“The precautionary suspension is prompted by the need to investigate without hindrance or interference, given Ms Oliphant’s position in the Department,” said Netshipale.
However, Oliphant claimed she was suspended because the Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, believed that she had leaked information to the media about a R3 million trip that the department had spent on six delegates who were on a two-week trip to New York.
Oliphant also claimed she is being punished because of her relationship with the former President of the ANCYL, Bathabile Dlamini.
Dlamini has been seen as a follower of the RET faction, while Tolashe, the current President of the ANCWL, is a follower of renewal in the ANC.
“Sisisi, who does not even have a matric, has been ridiculing my work even though I remain one of the best performing heads of communication in government, according to GCIS.
“She has taken her political fight with Bathabile Dlamini to the department and has been victimising me in every meeting, but I decided to give her the respect she deserves as a leader and umntu omdala,” she said.
Meanwhile Democratic Alliance (DA) shadow minister for Social Development, Alexandra Abrahams, questioned Oliphant’s relationship with the different leaders of the ANCWL.
“The question we must ask is, did Ms Oliphant, who was initially a political appointee in both Bathebile Dlamini and Lindiwe Zulu’s political office, go through the required HR processes to be appointed into a government position?
“And, if her appointment and performance are merit-based, [that would] ensure politics stay out of the department.”
Abrahams said ministers cannot choose which senior managers they would like to work with in government since these are government appointees.
“The senior management plays an important role in the implementation of these plans, and thus ensuring merit-based appointments in these positions are important and should not be swapped and changed on the basis of personal preference,” she said.
She said South Africans are within their rights to be upset about the amount of money spent by the department in New York.
“We often hear there is no money for more social workers or SASSA client-facing staff. We must practice oversight on the real impact this trip had,” she said.
With over a decade as a journalist, Oliphant transitioned to government, facing challenges in a patriarchal environment but advocating for women and excellence.