Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed South Africa’s Social Development Minister, Sisisi Tolashe, following weeks of mounting corruption allegations linked to her office and personal conduct.
Tolashe, a senior member of the ruling African National Congress and president of the party’s influential Women’s League, becomes the second high-ranking official to be removed amid graft-related controversies in recent weeks.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Ramaphosa announced the dismissal of the 66-year-old minister but did not provide specific reasons for the decision.
Her removal followed increasing calls from political parties within South Africa’s unity government demanding her resignation after media reports detailed allegations of misconduct and irregularities, which she has denied.
According to investigations published by the Daily Maverick, Tolashe allegedly failed to declare two vehicles reportedly donated to the ANC Women’s League by Chinese officials before transferring them to her children.
Additional allegations include irregularities surrounding appointments within the ministry and claims that a state-funded employee working at one of her residences was instructed to remit half of her salary to Tolashe’s daughter.
The dismissal came only hours after the Democratic Alliance, the second-largest party in the governing coalition, publicly demanded her removal.
The party accused the ANC of frequently shielding compromised political figures from accountability.
The latest scandal adds to growing concerns over corruption within the ANC, which has governed South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994 but has steadily lost public support in recent years.
The party was forced into a unity government after losing its parliamentary majority in the 2024 general elections, with upcoming local elections in November expected to serve as another major test of voter confidence.
Corruption allegations have increasingly dominated South Africa’s political landscape and continue to weigh heavily on Ramaphosa’s administration.
In July 2025, Ramaphosa suspended former police minister Senzo Mchunu after a provincial police chief accused him of collaborating with organised crime networks.
The investigations later widened to include senior police leadership and eventually led to the suspension of national police chief Fannie Masemola last month.
Ramaphosa himself is also facing allegations of misconduct linked to the reported concealment of a 2020 burglary at one of his private residences involving the theft of large sums of foreign currency.
Although the South African president has denied any wrongdoing, parliament is reportedly preparing impeachment proceedings connected to the controversy.
The mounting scandals continue to intensify scrutiny of the ANC government as South Africa grapples with declining public trust, economic pressures, and demands for greater accountability in public office.
