By Johnathan Paoli
ActionSA Member of Parliament (MP) Dereleen James has laid criminal charges against Social Development Minister Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe, accusing her of misleading Parliament over the origins of two luxury vehicles allegedly linked to the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL).
James announced the move on social media on Wednesday, opening the case at the Cape Town Magistrate’s court.
“Minister Sisisi Tolashe will not get away with LYING to Parliament to cover potential criminal conduct,” she said.
“Today, ActionSA has: opened a criminal case of corruption against Minister Tolashe; 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. Stay tuned, We will not allow a Minister to destroy one of the most important departments meant to care for vulnerable citizens.”
The dispute centres on two BAIC Beijing X55 sport utility vehicles, valued at close to R1 million, which Tolashe allegedly claimed were “donated” to the ANC by the Chinese government.
That explanation has since come under scrutiny, following a Daily Maverick investigation that revealed the vehicles were allegedly for the benefit, and registered in the names, of the Tolashe’s daughters.
According to ActionSA, the vehicles were never properly declared, raising concerns that they may constitute undisclosed gifts, potentially from foreign officials.
The party argues that if the vehicles were indeed donated to the ANC, as Tolashe claimed, they should have been formally declared to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
James said the minister’s explanation does not withstand scrutiny, particularly given the ANC’s denial of any such donation.
She added that Tolashe had initially failed to respond to parliamentary questions about the vehicles, only later stating that they had been donated to the ANC.
“Unsurprisingly, the ANC has itself distanced itself from any such vehicles, with its most senior officials stating that they have no knowledge of what Minister Tolashe is referring to. This makes it clear that the Minister is attempting to cover up what appears to be the unlawful receipt of these vehicles, with serious consequences,” James said.
ActionSA further argues that the failure to declare the vehicles to Parliament points to a deliberate attempt to mislead lawmakers.
“Having regard to the fact that the vehicles were not declared by the Minister to Parliament, the facts point clearly to an attempt to mislead Parliament in order to conceal the receipt of these vehicles,” she said.
James questioned the nature of the alleged donation, saying it would be highly irregular for a cabinet minister to receive such gifts from foreign officials.
“The purpose of this apparent ‘gift’ requires urgent investigation, as it is highly irregular for a Minister to receive two luxury vehicles from foreign government officials under any circumstances, especially when the recipient has made every effort to conceal it,” she said.
She said the matter strikes at the heart of parliamentary accountability.
“Representing the most egregious form of disrespect, a Minister who blatantly lies to Parliament commits an affront to the very institution constitutionally empowered to hold the executive to account,” James said.
Inside Politics reached out to the Minister, who did not respond at the time of publication.
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