Department of Social Development
By Mpho Moloi
In a sharp response to ongoing claims, the Department of Social Development has strongly denied allegations from its former spokesperson, Lumka Oliphant, calling them misleading and false.
The department says her dismissal stems from serious mismanagement issues, not any political plot. This comes after a public spat that has drawn wide attention, highlighting tensions within the ministry.
Oliphant, who served as chief director of communication, was let go on 17 October 2025 after failing to address charges against her. The case has sparked debate about accountability in government, with some seeing her as a whistleblower and others as a disgruntled worker spreading untruths.
Background to the Suspension and Dismissal
The trouble started when Oliphant was placed on precautionary suspension with full pay on 1 September 2025. This followed a report from the Auditor-General of South Africa that flagged serious problems in how funds were handled during her time as acting deputy director-general for corporate support services in the 2024/2025 financial year.
The report pointed to irregularities in two key programmes: the Integrated Justice System and the National Integrated Social Protection Information System. These involved millions of rands and raised questions about how money was spent. The department stressed that the suspension was not a sign of guilt but a step to allow a fair probe without interference, given her senior role.
An independent panel was set up to look into the claims, with a promise to wrap up within 60 days. But Oliphant did not make representations on the charges, which included gross misconduct, breaking security clearance rules, violating government communication policy, gross insolence, harming the department’s work, and bringing it into disrepute.
On 17 October 2025, Director-General Peter Netshipale sent her a dismissal letter. It said she was found guilty of misconduct and had ignored chances to respond or explain. “You have elected to leave the charges unchallenged and undisputed,” the letter noted. She was told to hand back all department items right away.
Department’s Strong Rejection of Oliphant’s Claims
In a media statement on 18 October 2025, the department hit back at what it called “blatant lies” from Oliphant. They said she was trying to distract from the real issues by making wild claims. “Instead of accounting for her alleged wrongdoing, Ms Oliphant chose to engage in public-mudslinging and false whistleblowing to deceive the public,” the statement read.
They accused her of leaving out key facts to fit her story. For example, soon after Minister Sisisi Tolashe joined the department, Oliphant allegedly pushed hard to get appointed as SASSA regional executive manager in the Western Cape, without following proper steps.
The department also slammed her for not reporting her claims earlier, as required for senior staff. “It is anybody’s guess as to why Ms Oliphant, who as a senior manager was duty-bound to report such allegations if they exist, chose this time of her dismissal to make fabricated and malicious allegations,” they said.
They rejected suggestions that her firing linked to anything else but the mismanagement claims, including questionable hires of friends as service providers for the DSDTV project, called a “vanity project” in the statement.
The department also cleared up rumours about Director-General Peter Netshipale’s supposed suspension, calling them false and part of Oliphant’s efforts to mislead. They urged media to check facts and not spread unverified stories from “false and malicious whistleblowers.”
The R3 Million New York Trip Controversy
A big part of the row came from reports about Minister Tolashe’s trip to New York, which cost about R3 million. This was for a United Nations summit, but questions arose over spending on five-star hotels, flights, and other costs for the group.
The department blamed high exchange rates and late bookings for the high price. They said the trip was needed for global talks on social issues. But a media report claimed the South African team missed many sessions, calling it a waste of taxpayer money.
Oliphant was accused of leaking details to the press, which she denied. “Just because I have worked with almost every journalist and worked at City Press in particular, the department, Sisisi in particular, believes that I leaked the information to the Sunday Times and previous reports by the City Press,” she said.
The department countered that answers to parliament questions are public in the Hansard, so no leak was needed. They gave notes to reporters before stories ran, explaining costs like transfers wrongly listed under one person’s budget.
Oliphant’s Side: Claims of Political Victimisation
Oliphant has fought back strongly, saying her suspension and firing were political hits. She linked it to internal fights, including a feud between Tolashe and former minister Bathabile Dlamini. “She has taken her political fight with Bathabile Dlamini to the department and has been victimising me in every meeting,” Oliphant claimed.
She accused Tolashe of being “petty, clueless and vindictive.” Oliphant said she refused to back a dodgy move for acting SASSA CEO Themba Matlou’s counter-offer to join Gauteng DSD, pushing for capable women instead.
She also raised alarms about adviser Ngwako Kgatla, who had unresolved charges from another department and two different CVs. Oliphant said she told state security about this and other issues, like the minister’s personal assistant Lesedi Mabiletja’s falsified CV and lack of Nyukela certificate.
Mabiletja and chief of staff Zanele Simmons were suspended over this, with Simmons later dismissed and challenging it. Oliphant claimed Kgatla spread lies that she was the minister’s enemy because of her past work with Dlamini.
After her firing, Oliphant vowed to keep speaking. “I won’t be silenced,” she said. “The many black professionals who have been purged, silenced because we fear for our lives and worry about where our next job will come from.” She added: “No one should regulate my anger or my pain.”
She drew parallels to whistleblower Babita Deokaran’s killing, saying it shows risks for those who speak up against corruption.
Other Allegations and Broader Issues
The Auditor-General’s report went beyond Oliphant, showing wider problems in the department. It found over 73,000 “ghost beneficiaries” getting grants without proper papers, duplicate payments to dead people, state workers, and company bosses. At least R133 million in overpayments was not tracked for recovery.
The department paid R2.5 million to service provider Brilliantel while the gender-based violence command centre was down for six months, leaving victims without help.
Oliphant said most units did worse than hers, yet their heads were not suspended. She called her case part of a purge of honest workers.
This fits a pattern some see in government, where whistleblowers face backlash while accused allies get protected. Critics link it to bigger rot, like shielding figures in scandals, and question the “New Dawn” under President Cyril Ramaphosa.
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