Headline:
Minister Sisisi Tolashe Accused of Exploiting Government-Funded Employee for Personal Gain
Subheading:
Former Household Worker Claims She Was Forced to Pay Half Her Salary to Minister’s Daughter
A whistleblower has exposed troubling allegations against South Africa’s Social Development Minister, Sisisi Tolashe, involving the misuse of a government-funded employee for personal household work—and claims that the worker was forced to surrender half her salary to the minister’s daughter.
Documents obtained by Daily Maverick reveal that Thandi*, a former employee hired as a “food aide” for the Department of Social Development, was unexpectedly assigned to work at Tolashe’s private residence in East London instead of her official government residences in Cape Town or Pretoria.
A Broken Promise
Thandi told Daily Maverick she initially believed the job would involve working at one of the minister’s official state properties. Instead, she found herself living and working at Tolashe’s private home, tending to household chores for the minister’s family.
But the most shocking demand came later: Thandi alleges she was instructed to pay roughly half her government-funded salary to Tolashe’s daughter, Kanyisa, as a “contribution” to household expenses.
Possible Legal Violations
The arrangement appears to breach multiple government regulations. According to the Ministerial Handbook and the Public Service Act, executive members are barred from using state-funded employees for private purposes. Additionally, forcing an employee to divert part of their salary to a family member could constitute financial exploitation.
Daily Maverick reached out to Minister Tolashe for comment through Department of Social Development spokesperson Sandy Gondlwana. While Gondlwana confirmed receiving the questions, no response was provided before publication. Attempts to contact Kanyisa Tolashe via WhatsApp also went unanswered.
Growing Scrutiny on Ministerial Conduct
This case adds to mounting concerns over ethical breaches within South Africa’s political elite. If proven true, the allegations could spark investigations into whether public funds were misused and whether Thandi’s employment terms violated labor laws.
Civil society groups have called for transparency, urging authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly. Meanwhile, Thandi’s story highlights the vulnerability of low-wage workers entangled in power imbalances with high-ranking officials.
Daily Maverick continues to follow developments and will update the story if responses are received.
— Reported by Nexio News
