Department of Social Development under fire: Minister faces questions over 22-year-old chief of staff’s appointment

The Department of Social Development is facing mounting scrutiny after the removal of 22-year-old Lesedi Mabiletja as chief of staff, a position she reportedly secured despite a lack of experience.

Mabiletja is the niece of the minister’s special advisor, and her qualifications and experience for the role were being questioned.

She holds a Diploma in Information Technology and according to her CV, has one year of experience as a manager in 'sales and marketing', at the college where she studied.

From there, she went on to be appointed chief of staff, earning R1.4million per year.

The previous chief of staff, Zanele Simmons, was placed on a precautionary suspension because she allegedly used the electronic signature of the minister without proper approval to falsify CVs.

On 3 October, she received a termination letter, according to her lawyer, Paul Khoza, from PC Khoza Attorneys.

Simmons vehemently denies this and is challenging her suspension.

There are also allegations that Minister Sisisi Tolashe is romantically involved with her special advisor, Ngwako Kgatla, and he has received special treatment as a result.

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On Thursday, Minister Tolashe will table a report on all these and other issues in the department before the Portfolio Committee on Social Development.

“We will then, as a portfolio committee, be able to ask questions and make comments, and then we will know what step to take next,” says Bridget Masango, National Assembly Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development.

Masango says these allegations are serious and are of great concern to the committee.

Bridget Masango, National Assembly Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development, and Zanele Simmons, lawyer Paul Khoza, from PC Khoza Attorneys, were in conversation with Clement Manyathela on 702.

Listen to the full interview via the audio player below: