South Africa’s Department of Social Development is entrusted with billions of Rands for SASSA grants. Its role is to uplift communities and protect those living near the poverty line. A most noble of endeavors that should be delivered with grace and empathy.
However, revelations from within the Department of Social Development last week paint a very different picture. The South African has already reported on the ‘irregular hiring’ of Minister Sisisi Tolashe’s Chief of Staff, Lesedi Mabiletja (22). One the minister takes no responsibility for. However, this appears to be just the tip of the iceberg …
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CHAOS
The latest allegations within the Department of Social Development are of ‘intimidation and threats,’ reports The Citizen. The minister’s aide, Luvuyo Shasha, is accused of sending threatening messages to other staff members. Specifically, the Department of Social Development’s suspended communications chief, Lumka Oliphant. Shasha warned Oliphant that she could ‘get hurt’ if she doesn’t ‘stop her tantrum.’
The ‘tantrum’ refers to Oliphant’s suspension back in September 2024 after findings of misconduct by the Auditor-General. However, Oliphant claims her suspension was in fact linked to a ‘leaked’ news report about a lavish R3-million trip to New York by Minister Tolashe. What business the South African Social Security Agency had in the Big Apple is still unclear.
BULLYING WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Moreover, The Sunday Times reports that Oliphant was ‘victimised and ridiculed’ within the department. “The minister has been ridiculing my work even though I remain one of the best performing Heads of Communication in government according to GCIS,” said Oliphant.
She then opened a case of intimidation at the Sandton police station. Which, in turn, triggered Shasha’s suspension from the Department of Social Development. “The officer’s (Shasha’s) conduct has brought the minister and the department into disrepute. And he was acting in his own capacity,” said a department spokesperson following his suspension.
SUSPENSIONS, HIRINGS AND FIRINGS …
Nevertheless, the timing of this chaos couldn’t be worse for a department facing large budget cuts in the coming months. While core SASSA grants did increase this month (October 2025), their budget drops by R14 billion in 2026/27.
As such, the Department of Social Development Minister appeared in parliament last week to answer to the disarray. Tolashe intimated that the negative media was a calculated campaign from Oliphant to damage her reputation.
What do you think? Can SASSA grants be effectively delivered when the department is in such chaos? Or is this simply a calculated attack on the minister from a former employee?
