Lumka Oliphant suspended over 'serious mismanagement' claims, says Social Development Department
Lumka Oliphant, Chief Director of Communication, was suspended by the Department of Social Development pending an investigation into financial mismanagement during her acting tenure as Deputy Director-General..
Image: Social development/ X
The Department of Social Development has confirmed the precautionary suspension of its Chief Director of Communication, Lumka Oliphant, citing serious allegations of financial mismanagement during her time as Acting Deputy Director-General for Corporate Support Services in the 2024/2025 financial year.
In a statement issued following Oliphant’s media interviews and social media posts, the Department dismissed her claims as “false and misleading,” accusing her of attempting to divert attention from the real reasons behind her suspension.
While the department 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.
The Department said Oliphant was suspended with immediate effect from Monday, 1 September, pending an investigation into irregularities flagged by the Auditor General in two major programmes, the Integrated Justice System (IJS) and the National Integrated Social Protection Information System (NISPIS), linked to the period of her acting role.
“The truth of the matter is that Ms Oliphant was placed on precautionary suspension for serious allegations of mismanagement against her during her 12-month long tenure as the Acting Deputy Director-General: Corporate Support Services for the 2024/2025 financial year,” the Department said.
It emphasised that the suspension “does not in any way constitute a judgment of guilt or innocence. Rather, it will allow an investigation into these serious allegations to be carried out without prejudicing the process or any of the current employees, given Ms Oliphant’s seniority in the Department.”
While finalising the appointment of an investigating panel, the Director-General assured the public that the process will be completed speedily, with an expected timeline of 60 days.
“The Director-General assures the public that he is mindful of the fact that by law, Ms Oliphant is entitled to a speedy and effective finalisation of the investigation and confident the investigating panel, once appointed, will complete its work within 60 days.”
The Department took issue with Oliphant’s public statements, accusing her of peddling “wild and unfounded allegations” and attacking the integrity of Minister Tolashe.
“Regrettably, Ms Oliphant, who remains an employee of the Department and who like any other employee in the public service is bound by the Public Service Code of Conduct and other relevant prescripts, chose to play the role of chief propagandist by peddling wild and unfounded allegations for her precautionary suspension,” it said.
“In her expletive-laden social media ranting spree devoid of any truth, Ms Oliphant devoted her energy to demean and cast aspersions on the person and integrity of Minister Tolashe.”
Addressing one of Oliphant’s public claims, the Department rejected her assertion that she was suspended because she was suspected of leaking a Sunday Times article, saying her suspension had “nothing to do” with the media coverage.
“Her placement on precautionary suspension has nothing to do with her wild and false allegations, claiming that she was ‘suspended because she is suspected of leaking the Sunday Times’s leading story’.”
The Department also expressed concern over media reports which it says ignored clarifying information that had been provided ahead of publication, specifically regarding the breakdown of transfer-related costs for a delegation led by Deputy Director-General for Welfare Services, Ms Siza Magangoe.
“The Department clearly stated that the transfer-related costs of the entire delegation, was erroneously put under Ms Magangoe’s budget without breaking it into individual costs for each member of the delegation.”
“As a caring employer, we take this opportunity to advise Ms Oliphant to refrain from continuing to making disparaging statements about the Department or the Minister, but to rather focus on serious allegations of mismanagement levelled against her that led to her precautionary suspension in the first place.”
The Department said it will not provide further updates while the investigation is underway, “out of respect for the integrity and legitimacy of the ongoing processes, as well as to give the investigating panel the necessary space and time to do its work.”
Nomfundo Xulu-Lentsoane has been appointed as Acting Chief Director for Communication, said the department.
hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za
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