SAFTU slams Ramaphosa silence on Tolashe allegations, warns of 'factional protection'

The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to address mounting allegations involving Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe and Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, saying the country can no longer be subjected to “silence, evasions, or factional protection”.

In a statement, SAFTU general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said the allegations facing Tolashe were serious enough to require direct intervention from the President.

“The central question is no longer only what Minister Tolashe did or did not do. The central question is: why is President Cyril Ramaphosa not acting?” Vavi said.

SAFTU raised concern over several allegations facing Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe, including claims around undeclared Chinese-donated SUVs, accusations made by her former spokesperson Lumka Oliphant, and a Sunday Times/TimesLIVE report involving leaked audio in which she allegedly suggested she would avoid answering certain parliamentary questions

Vavi said ministers serve in Cabinet because they are appointed by the President and questioned why Ramaphosa had not publicly clarified whether he still had confidence in Tolashe.

“Why should Parliament be the first institution forced to extract answers, when the President himself should be explaining whether he still has confidence in a minister facing such serious allegations?” he asked.

SAFTU said the issue extended beyond Tolashe, pointing to allegations facing McKenzie relating to alleged links to organised crime, which the minister has denied.

“These allegations, too, require proper investigation and public accountability,” Vavi said.

The federation argued that South Africa’s accountability crisis stems from deeper political failures within the ANC, saying unresolved scandals and factional politics have weakened constitutional oversight institutions.

Vavi said Ramaphosa himself remained politically damaged by the Phala Phala scandal, referring to findings by the independent Section 89 panel chaired by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo.

“The independent Section 89 panel chaired by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo found that there may be sufficient evidence that the President committed serious violations of the Constitution and the law and may have engaged in serious misconduct,” SAFTU said.

The federation said Ramaphosa avoided a possible impeachment inquiry because the ANC used its parliamentary majority to vote against adopting the panel’s report.

“Ramaphosa therefore cannot today posture as though parliamentary protection of compromised leaders is something foreign to him. He directly benefited from it,” Vavi said.

SAFTU also referenced former president Jacob Zuma, saying Parliament had repeatedly been used during his administration to shield political leaders from accountability.

“This is exactly the same pattern South Africans witnessed during the Jacob Zuma years, when the ANC repeatedly used its parliamentary majority to shield President Zuma from accountability, motions of no confidence and the consequences of mounting scandals and constitutional breaches,” the federation said.

The federation further cited allegations and adverse findings involving Deputy President Paul Mashatile, ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and ANC First Deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane.

Vavi said findings by the Zondo Commission and the Public Protector could not simply be dismissed through public denials.

“These findings and reports cannot simply be wished away through public denialism. Findings of Judicial Commissions of Inquiry and the Public Protector remain in force unless and until they are successfully reviewed and set aside by a competent court,” he said.

SAFTU said the country was facing a broader crisis in which leaders accused of wrongdoing were unable or unwilling to act decisively against others facing allegations.

“That is why decisive action rarely happens. That is why accountability becomes selective. That is why scandal after scandal produces outrage but very little consequence,” Vavi said.

The federation said Ramaphosa’s promise of ANC renewal had collapsed amid continued scandals and declining public trust.

“The ANC’s electoral decline confirms this crisis,” SAFTU said, noting the party’s support dropped from 62.15% in 2014 to 40.18% in the 2024 elections.

Vavi said ordinary South Africans were ultimately paying the price through worsening unemployment, corruption, poverty and collapsing public services.

SAFTU called on Ramaphosa to publicly state whether he still had confidence in Tolashe and McKenzie, explain what action he has taken since the allegations surfaced, and ensure all allegations are independently investigated without political interference.

“If the whole leadership is compromised, the likes of Tolashe and McKenzie will never be held accountable.

''That is the crisis South Africa faces: not isolated scandals, but a governing elite that has lost the moral authority to police itself,” Vavi said.

Meanwhile, while hosting a media briefing to update the public on the President’s programme, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said on Wednesday that Ramaphosa was attending to the matter.

“The minister has delivered her report to the President, articulating her side of the story with respect to the vehicles and other issues,” Magwenya said.

“As you know, the President prefers to take his time when dealing with such matters. He will not be under any form of pressure to arrive at whatever decision he may arrive at,” he said.

“It is a matter that he is on top of, and he is aware of all the issues. Without speculating, I’m sure in the next couple of weeks or so, he will be meeting with the minister.”

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