WATCH | ‘I did nothing wrong’: Lumka Oliphant hits back at Minister

by Staff Bona

The Department of Social Development (DSD) has placed its Chief Director of Communications, Lumka Oliphant, on precautionary suspension with full pay while investigating alleged misconduct, reportedly linked to Auditor-General findings.

On Monday, 1 September, the department’s Director-General, Peter Netshipale, announced that Lumka had been placed on suspension with full pay.

“The precautionary suspension is prompted by the need to conduct an investigation without hindrance or interference, given Ms Oliphant’s position in the Department,” Peter said in a statement.

Lumka, however, rejects the suspension, claiming it is politically motivated and retaliatory following a Sunday Times exposé on Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe’s R3 million New York trip.

“I have just received a letter of suspension from the department following an expose by the Sunday Times on a trip to New York where Minister Sisisi Tolashe spent R3 million for two weeks,” she wrote.

“The department, Sisisi, in particular believes that I leaked the information to the Sunday Times and previous reports by the City Press. Just because I have worked with almost every journalist and worked at City Press in particular.

Lumka accused the minister and departmental officials of undermining her, politicising processes, and engaging in factionalism, while insisting the Auditor-General’s findings implicate senior management, not her.

“Sisisi who does not even have a Grade 12 has been ridiculing my work even though I remain one of the best performing Heads of Communication in government according to GCIS.”

The department has not commented on her allegations.

First published on African Insider

Words compiled by: Betha Madhomu 

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