Saftu questions Ramaphosa’s silence on Tolashe scandal

Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe and the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu). Picture: Gallo Images/Brenton Geach and Saftu The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to publicly address mounting allegations against Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe, accusing him of “hiding” while ministers face serious scrutiny. In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, Saftu said the allegations against Tolashe were serious enough to require immediate intervention from the Presidency.

The federation stressed that it was not declaring Tolashe guilty, but argued that Ramaphosa’s silence had become the central issue. “Saftu is not a court of law. We do not declare anyone guilty before due process.

But these allegations are serious enough to demand immediate presidential clarification, not silence, evasions, or factional protection,” the federation said. According to Saftu, the issue now extends beyond the allegations themselves. “The central question is no longer only what Minister Tolashe did or did not do.

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The central question is: why is President Cyril Ramaphosa not acting?” the federation asked. Saftu said ministers serve at the discretion of the president and questioned why parliament should be left to extract answers while the president remained quiet. “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?” it said.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said on Wednesday that Ramaphosa was aware of the allegations involving Tolashe and was considering the minister’s response. Speaking during a media briefing on the president’s public programme, Magwenya said Tolashe had already submitted a report to the president.

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