The Democratic Alliance has filed fraud charges against Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe, alleging she improperly registered vehicles linked to a donation meant for the ANC Women’s League.
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The Democratic Alliance (DA) has filed two fraud complaints against Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe over the registration of two vehicles, allegedly intended for the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL), in her children’s names.
The DA opened the cases at a Cape Town police station on Thursday.
The party has also approached Parliament’s portfolio committee to request an inquiry into a series of maladministration allegations within Tolashe’s department.
The move comes two weeks after ActionSA filed a similar complaint at the same police station, prompting criticism that the DA is duplicating efforts and wasting public resources.
Tolashe has faced growing scrutiny in recent weeks over the vehicles.
She reportedly told the ANC’s Integrity Commission that she registered them in her children’s names to protect party assets from possible seizure during a period of financial difficulty.
DA national spokesperson Jan de Villiers said the party laid criminal charges against Tolashe for allegedly deceiving authorities for personal gain.
“The latest unjustifiable scandal surrounding Minister Tolashe involves motor cars she and her family have been using, allegedly donated by a Chinese delegation,” he said.
De Villiers outlined two possible scenarios: either the vehicles were donated to Tolashe personally and she failed to disclose them to Parliament, or they were donated to the ANCWL and fraudulently registered in her children’s names to shield them from creditors.
“We have provided the SAPS (South African Police Service) with sufficient evidence that warrant investigation. The DA views these allegations in an extremely serious light,” he said.
He added that any attempt to mislead Parliament or manipulate creditors undermines the rule of law.
“Public office bearers must be held to the highest ethical and legal standards, and any breach must have consequences.”
He said the charges include allegedly lying to Parliament - a potential offence of fraud and a statutory violation under Section 27 of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliaments and Provincial Legislatures Act - as well as the fraudulent registration of vehicles under the National Road Traffic Act and possible theft.
The DA has previously filed an Ethics Committee complaint accusing Tolashe of misleading Parliament over the appointment of her director-general, and a complaint with the Public Protector involving the same official.
The party has also written to President Cyril Ramaphosa seeking clarity on whether Tolashe obtained approval to accept and retain the vehicles.
De Villiers said the DA would also seek clarity on the proceeds from any sale of the vehicles.
“She will have to report to Parliament during a full inquiry and to investigating authorities,” he said.
Over the weekend, Tolashe reportedly told ANC structures that she did not declare the vehicles because they were held by her family for “safekeeping.”
ActionSA MP Dereleen James has previously filed criminal charges against Tolashe, accusing her of misleading Parliament about the source and use of two luxury vehicles allegedly donated to the ANCWL.
James has further lodged complaints with the Public Protector and Parliament’s Ethics Committee, citing breaches of the Executive Members’ Ethics Act and the Code of Conduct.
She said the action followed revelations in Tolashe’s response to a parliamentary question, which she described as “a blatantly deceitful attempt” to conceal the origin of the vehicles and any personal benefit.
The vehicles are believed to be two BAIC Beijing X55 SUVs - one white and one yellow - each valued at between R400,000 and R500,000, bringing their combined estimated value to nearly R1 million.
Meanwhile, Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Maropene Ramokgopa is facing similar scrutiny over allegations that she received and failed to declare luxury vehicles.
The DA and ActionSA have called on Ramaphosa to take action if the claims are substantiated.
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
DA MP Darren Bergman previously said the allegations, if proven, would breach the Executive Ethics Code, which requires Cabinet members to obtain 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.
Both she and Tolashe are accused of receiving SUVs allegedly donated by Chinese representatives in late 2023 for the ANCWL, where Tolashe serves as president and Ramokgopa as national co-ordinator.
The vehicles were allegedly distributed within the ministers’ personal circles instead of being used for organisational purposes.
Reports suggest vehicles linked to Ramokgopa may have been registered in the names of her son and associates.
Ramaphosa previously has said he is awaiting a full report 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.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
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