Parliament, Wednesday, 14 October 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Social Development on Wednesday expressed dismay at the findings presented by the Public Service Commission (PSC) on the irregular appointment of a Food Aide official who worked at the private residence of former Minister of Social Development, Ms Sisisi Tolashe.
The findings raise serious concerns about compliance with public service recruitment procedures, the misuse of public funds and the alleged diversion of a portion of a public servant’s salary for private household expenses.
According to the PSC’s presentation, the Food Aide position fell outside the Department of Social Development’s (DSD) approved establishment and was not advertised. The Commission reported that Ms Nomathamsanqa Khuhlane was handpicked and appointed to the position at the former Minister’s private residence. The committee also heard that although the post was graded at salary level 2, she was appointed at salary level 3.
The presentation further detailed allegations that Ms Khuhlane was informed by a departmental official that, although her monthly salary would be R15 000, only R8 000 would be hers to keep, while the remainder would be used to purchase groceries for the former Minister’s household. The PSC reported that she was subsequently allegedly instructed by Ms Khanyile Tolashe, the former Minister’s daughter, to transfer portions of her salary into her bank account.
The PSC told the committee that the arrangement left Ms Khuhlane with only R1 800 from her first salary in December 2024. Banking records presented to the PSC showed that Ms Khuhlane transferred approximately R37 000 into an account allegedly belonging to the former Minister’s daughter.
The committee expressed serious concern that a public servant’s salary may have been used in this manner. It emphasised that DSD cannot distance itself from the circumstances surrounding the appointment, the salary arrangements or the reported transfers.
The Chairperson of the committee, Ms Bridget Masango, insisted on accountability. "The department must account fully for the circumstances that enabled the appointment and the alleged payments," she said. "The department must take full responsibility for the circumstances surrounding this appointment and account for the money that was allegedly transferred from Ms Khuhlane’s salary to Ms Khanyisa Tolashe. The fact that the position was reportedly outside the department’s establishment and was not advertised raises fundamental questions about the integrity of the department’s recruitment and appointment processes,” said Ms Masango. She added that allegations of fraud and the misuse of public funds must be investigated thoroughly and, where wrongdoing is established, appropriate consequences must follow.
The committee also raised concerns about officials who resign while investigations into their conduct are underway. It stressed that resignation should not become a means of evading accountability and called for appropriate action against former officials implicated in wrongdoing,
The committee called for a comprehensive audit of the department's human resources system. According to Ms Masango, the audit should examine recruitment and appointment procedures, compliance with the approved establishment, salary-level determinations and internal controls intended to prevent irregular appointments and the misuse of public resources.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, MS BRIDGET MASANGO
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Justice Molafo
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Email: jmolafo@parliament.gov.za
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