'It's a political hit!' Lumka Oliphant suspended with full pay amid R3million NYC trip furore

The Department of Social Development has placed its Chief Director of Communications, Lumka Oliphant, on precautionary suspension with full pay, pending the outcome of an internal investigation into alleged misconduct.

In a statement on Monday, Director-General Peter Netshipale said the suspension was necessary to ensure the investigation proceeds without interference.

“The precautionary suspension is prompted by the need to investigate without hindrance or interference, given Ms Oliphant’s position in the Department,” said Netshipale.

While the department has cited consequence management related to Auditor-General findings, the suspension comes shortly after media reports exposed a R3 million trip to New York by Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe. 

Oliphant was accused by the department of leaking the information to the Sunday Times, an allegation she has strongly denied.

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

She has described the suspension as politically motivated, claiming it stems from ongoing internal tensions within the department.

“She (Minister Tolashe) has taken her political fight with Bathabile Dlamini to the department and has been victimising me in every meeting, but I decided to give her the respect she deserves as a leader and umntu omdala,” Oliphant said.

She also claimed that a ministerial advisor, Ngwako Kgatla, was influencing decisions against her.

“This suspension is because one of the advisors, Ngwako Kgatla, has been telling everyone that I am the minister’s enemy because I worked with Bathabile,” she said.

Oliphant further dismissed any link between her suspension and the Auditor-General’s report, insisting the allegations have no bearing on her role.

Despite the ongoing disciplinary process, Oliphant said she would not be intimidated.

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za 

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