President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe following months of mounting allegations of misconduct, irregular appointments and undisclosed gifts.
The Presidency announced the dismissal on Thursday, 14 May 2026, citing Section 91(2) of the Constitution. Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has been appointed as acting minister pending a permanent replacement.
Tolashe, who is also president of the ANC Women’s League, faced criminal complaints from the DA and ActionSA over two luxury SUVs donated to the league but allegedly registered in her children’s names. She was further implicated in the irregular appointment of a 22-year-old as chief of staff, and in allegations that a state-funded “food aide” worked at her private East London home.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Ramaphosa engaged Tolashe directly before acting. “He has felt that due to a number of issues, a lot of which have been ventilated in the public domain, it was best to remove the minister,” he said.
The Department of Social Development oversees more than R292 billion in social grant spending for over 26 million beneficiaries.
