STATEMENT: UBIC condemns multiple governance failings revealed in allegations against Minister Tolashe, calls for her resignation

The UBIC coalition demands the resignation of South African Minister of Social Development Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe following allegations of financial misconduct and improper hiring. The coalition argues that these scandals distract from urgent poverty alleviation efforts, specifically the finalisation of basic income support and Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant policies.

• Minister Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe faces several specific allegations of misconduct, including improper hiring and contracting within the Department of Social Development, failing to declare two SUVs gifted to the ANCWL and registered to her children, a R3 million departmental trip to New York, and using public funds to pay a private domestic worker whose salary was partially diverted to the Minister's daughter.
• The UBIC coalition asserts that the scandals surrounding Minister Tolashe have caused delays in the Department of Social Development's policy work, specifically regarding the future of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant and basic income support policy.
• UBIC reports the existence of leaked audio suggesting Minister Tolashe intends to avoid answering questions about these allegations before the Social Development Portfolio Committee.
• The coalition calls on President Ramaphosa to remove Minister Tolashe from her portfolio, citing a pattern of failure in the Department of Social Development that includes the previous Net1 scandal where social grant beneficiaries were defrauded.

APA

Institute for Economic Justice (2026). STATEMENT: UBIC condemns multiple governance failings revealed in allegations against Minister Tolashe, calls for her resignation. https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/STATEMENT_-UBIC-condemns-multiple-governance-failings-revealed-in-allegations-against-Minister-Tolashe-calls-for-urgent-action-and-accountability.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Economic Justice. STATEMENT: UBIC condemns multiple governance failings revealed in allegations against Minister Tolashe, calls for her resignation. 2026. https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/STATEMENT_-UBIC-condemns-multiple-governance-failings-revealed-in-allegations-against-Minister-Tolashe-calls-for-urgent-action-and-accountability.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Institute for Economic Justice |title=STATEMENT: UBIC condemns multiple governance failings revealed in allegations against Minister Tolashe, calls for her resignation |date=1 May 2026 |url=https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/STATEMENT_-UBIC-condemns-multiple-governance-failings-revealed-in-allegations-against-Minister-Tolashe-calls-for-urgent-action-and-accountability.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{instituteforeconomicjustice2026statement, author = {{Institute for Economic Justice}}, title = {{STATEMENT: UBIC condemns multiple governance failings revealed in allegations against Minister Tolashe, calls for her resignation}}, publisher = {Institute for Economic Justice}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/STATEMENT_-UBIC-condemns-multiple-governance-failings-revealed-in-allegations-against-Minister-Tolashe-calls-for-urgent-action-and-accountability.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }