Political parties are calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to act against Minister Maropene Ramokgopa after allegations she received three luxury SUVs without declaring them.
Image: Jacques Naude / Independent Newspapers
Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, is facing mounting scrutiny over allegations that she received luxury vehicles that were not declared.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) and ActionSA have called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to take decisive action if the claims are substantiated.
DA MP Darren Bergman said the allegations, if proven, would constitute a breach of the Executive Ethics Code, which requires Cabinet members to seek presidential approval before accepting gifts valued above R1,000.
Bergman alleged that three vehicles, with a combined value of about R1.5 million, were not disclosed in Ramokgopa’s declarations to Parliament between 2023 and 2025.
Ramokgopa is the second minister implicated in the controversy. Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe is also accused of receiving two SUVs that were allegedly not declared.
The vehicles were reportedly donated by Chinese representatives in late 2023 for the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL), where Tolashe serves as president and Ramokgopa as national co-ordinator.
However, the SUVs were allegedly distributed within the ministers’ personal circles instead of being used by the organisation.
Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe is facing scrutiny over luxury vehicle gifts that she did not declare.
Image: Jairus Mmutle / GCIS
Reports suggest that vehicles linked to Ramokgopa may have been registered in the names of her son and associates, including Luvo Makasi, a figure previously linked to controversy in government-linked entities.
Tolashe is accused of accepting two BAIC Beijing X55 SUVs, valued at between R400,000 and R500,000 each, and allegedly giving them to her children.
ActionSA MP Dereleen James said the party would pursue criminal charges, a complaint to the Public Protector and a parliamentary ethics complaint against Ramokgopa.
James has already opened criminal cases against Tolashe, citing possible corruption, breaches of the Executive Ethics Act and misleading Parliament.
She alleged that Ramokgopa may have followed a similar pattern by registering vehicles in the names of relatives or associates to avoid disclosure.
The DA said it would submit parliamentary questions to Ramokgopa and pursue accountability should evidence of wrongdoing emerge.
Meanwhile, Ramaphosa said he is awaiting a full report on the allegations against Tolashe before deciding on any action.
“These matters still need to be properly outlined to me. Once I have the full information, I will be able to make a decision,” he said during a recent media briefing in Mpumalanga.
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