Tolashe summoned by ANC NEC over alleged diversion of Chinese vehicle donations

Embattled Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe has been asked to explain to the African National Congress’s (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) a donation of Chinese vehicles she allegedly gifted to her children, instead of passing on to the Women’s League of which she is the president.

This is a separate request from her explanation to the ANC’s Integrity Commission, in which she alleged she was trying to prevent the cars from being seized at a time when the party was facing financial difficulties.

ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula said on Monday the party is not yet at the point to ask her to step aside from political duty.

On Sunday, the Sunday Times reported that Tolashe told the Integrity Commission she was protecting ANC assets when she decided to keep two SUVs donated by unknown Chinese officials to the ANC Women’s League in 2023, and to instead register them in the names of her children.

Mbalula said the party’s executive has not yet received a report from the commission, but has, in the meantime, asked Tolashe to explain her actions so that the party’s top brass can also be appropriately informed.

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"If a minister breaks the Executive Ethics Code on matters like this, there’s no negotiation; you will be dropped."

But Mbalula said ultimately, this is a matter for the Women’s League to deal with.

"There might not be a need for investigation based on the report that we get from the Women’s League together with the minister."

An expose by the Daily Maverick suggests Tolashe was not the only one to lay claim to donated vehicles and that Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Maropene Ramokgopa did the same.

In an affidavit to the ANC’s Integrity Commission, Tolashe said she did not declare the vehicles to Parliament because they were not hers, and they were only in her possession for safeguarding.