Social Development Minister Sisi Tolashe is facing heat over the use of two BAIC Beijing X55 SUVs purportedly donated to the ANCWL
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ActionSA MP Dereleen James has filed criminal charges against Social Development Minister Sisi Tolashe, accusing her of misleading Parliament about the source and use of two luxury vehicles allegedly donated to the African National Congress Women's League.
James opened a criminal case against Minister Tolashe for corruption, submitted a complaint to the Public Protector for breaches of the Executive Members’ Ethics Act; and laid a formal complaint with Parliament’s Ethics Committee for breaches of the Code of Conduct and Disclosure of Members’ Interests on Wednesday morning.
James said the move follows revelations in Tolashe’s reply to her parliamentary question, which the party claims point to “a blatantly deceitful attempt” to conceal the origin of the vehicles and her alleged benefit from them.
The party further claimed that the minister failed to declare two luxury vehicles received from Chinese officials.
ActionSA MP Dereleen James has officially laid charges against Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe accountable for allegedly lying to Parliament to conceal undeclared and undue luxury gifts she received.
Image: ActionSA
ActionSA also plans to take additional steps, including formally requesting that President Cyril Ramaphosa dismiss Tolashe.
The party argues that her alleged conduct renders her position untenable.
The controversy centres around two luxury vehicles that Tolashe initially said were donated to the ANCWL.
However, questions have arisen following reports that some senior ANC officials are unaware of such a donation.
James said Tolashe did not respond to initial parliamentary questions about the vehicles and only later claimed they had been donated to the ANC when the questions were resubmitted.
The explanation has since been challenged, with senior party members distancing themselves from any awareness of the alleged donation.
The vehicles in question are believed to be two BAIC Beijing X55 SUVs, one white and one yellow, each valued at between R400,000 and R500,000.
This places the total estimated value of the vehicles at close to R1 million.
According to the party, if the vehicles were indeed donated to the ANC, the contribution should have been declared to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), as required by law.
“Unsurprisingly, the ANC has distanced itself from any such vehicles, with its most senior officials stating they have no knowledge of what the minister is referring to,” James said.
She added that the facts suggest an attempt to conceal the receipt of the vehicles and mislead Parliament.
“The purpose of this apparent ‘gift’ requires urgent investigation. It is highly irregular for a minister to receive two luxury vehicles from foreign government officials under any circumstances, particularly where there appears to have been an effort to conceal them,” she said.
James described the alleged conduct as “an affront” to Parliament and said it may carry criminal implications.
“ActionSA believes the minister’s actions are unacceptable and warrant her immediate dismissal. If the president has any regard for the institution his appointed minister has so clearly disrespected, he must act without delay,” she said.
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