Lumka Oliphant’s New York spending spree lands her a comfy paid suspension

Social development spokesperson Lumka Oliphant has been suspended after the Sunday Times exposed the department’s R3 million New York trip.

lumka oliphant

The Department of Social Development has suspended its long-serving spokesperson, Lumka Oliphant, just one day after the Sunday Times published an article exposing how the department spent R3 million on a delegation trip to New York.

Why Lumka Oliphant was suspended

The Sunday Times reported that the money was used on five-star accommodation and other travel expenses for six officials, including Minister Sisisi Tolashe.

Oliphant confirmed that she was suspended because Minister Tolashe believes she leaked the information to the media. She denied the allegation, saying she had nothing to do with the leak.

“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 in her statement.

She described the charges against her as “trumped up” and argued that the Auditor-General’s findings about poor financial management were unrelated to her role.

Oliphant said such findings should fall under the responsibility of the department’s director-general, not her.

Oliphant hits back at Minister Tolashe

Oliphant used strong words to criticise Minister Tolashe, accusing her of victimisation and of ridiculing her work.

“She 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 [an elder],” Oliphant said.

She also claimed that one of the minister’s advisors, Ngwako Kgatla, had been influencing the department against her.

According to Oliphant, Kgatla told others she was “the minister’s enemy” because of her past working relationship with former minister Bathabile Dlamini.

Despite the controversy, Oliphant made it clear that her work continues to be recognised internationally. She said she had recently received an award for her professional achievements, even as the department proceeded with disciplinary charges against her.

“But here is a thing, I will NOT be intimidated by Sisisi, who must still go and finish her Grade 12. Ndim ndilapha etshatshalazeni bethuna. Andimoyiki uSisisi. To show that I know my work, as they were busy with the charges, my work is recognised internationally and confirmed today for an award,” Oliphant said.

Oliphant has been praised in the past by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) as one of the best-performing Heads of Communication in government.

Oliphant remains on paid suspension, which means she will continue receiving her salary while awaiting the outcome of the department’s internal process. The department has not confirmed how long the process will take or whether further disciplinary action will follow.