DSD spokesperson, Lumka Oliphant, suspended after report on dept's travel expenses

CAPE TOWN - Social development department spokesperson, Lumka Oliphant, has confirmed her suspension following an exposé in the Sunday Times about the department's travel expenses. 

In a statement, Oliphant said that she was suspended because Minister Sisisi Tolashe believes she leaked the information to the paper. 

The Sunday Times reported how the department spent R3 million on five-star accommodation for its delegation to New York.

Long-serving social development spokesperson, Oliphant, said the minister believes that she leaked the information to the Sunday Times, as well as previous reports by the City Press.

Oliphant said this was just because she's worked with almost every journalist and at the City Press in particular.

She said the charges against her were trumped up because they were the auditor-general's findings.

Oliphant said the AG's findings had nothing to do with her and should fall with the director-general.