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

TheSouth African Federation of Trade Unions(SAFTU) has called onPresident Cyril Ramaphosato address mounting allegations involvingSocial Development Minister Sisisi Tolasheand 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 secretaryZwelinzima Vavisaid 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. 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 JusticeSandile Ngcobo.