ANC Women's League president Sisisi Tolashe placed on leave amid disciplinary processes
via The Citizen2 min read
The ANC Women's League ANCWL has placed its president, Sisisi Tolashe, on a leave of absence. This decision follows her removal as minister of social development by President Cyril Ramaphosa and pending disciplinary processes by the ANC. The ANCWL's national executive committee NEC made the announcement after its meeting in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni. ANCWL secretary general Nokuthula Nqaba communicated the decision, which responds to findings from the ANC's Integrity Commission regarding allegations against Tolashe. Ramaphosa removed Tolashe due to allegations including misleading parliament and departmental failures. While the ANC did not mandate her to step aside, it initiated a disciplinary process. The ANCWL stated its commitment to natural justice and the presumption of innocence, enshrined in the Constitution. The NEC unanimously decided on the leave of absence to allow Tolashe to focus on the disciplinary process. Nqaba will assume the functions of ANCWL president. The league urged members to maintain discipline and allow the ANC to complete its processes. Tolashe had appeared before the parliamentary portfolio committee on social development on May 6 to address allegations of irregular appointments, food aid distribution issues, matters concerning a former house aide, and broader governance failures, including accusations of misleading parliament over vehicle donations to the ANCWL and questions about a former director-general's contract. Tolashe denied these allegations.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Citizen.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa IEC has gazetted a new code of disinformation aimed at curbing the spread of falsehoods during election campaigns. This code, part of the Electoral Code of Conduct on Measures to Address Disinformation in Local Government Elections, requires political parties and candidates to acknowledge the importance of information integrity and trustworthy media. They must also recognize the harm disinformation poses to free and fair elections and take steps to counter it. The proposals are open for public comment until July 21. Once finalized, parties and candidates will be required to sign the code. Breaches of the code, which applies to all election-related communications, paid and unpaid content, and campaign activities, could lead to sanctions under the Electoral Act. The rules mandate parties and candidates to refrain from deliberate manipulation of the public, including through digital technologies like artificial intelligence and inauthentic online behavior. They are also required to publicly retract and correct any disinformation disseminated by them or on their behalf and to censure those responsible. The code encourages transparency, requiring parties to proactively disclose key information relevant to the elections or electorate. The Government Gazette states that parties and candidates undertake not to use or encourage technologies that amplify disinformation or manipulate political discourse, including falsified data or targeted false
Judge Matthew Francis has shown little sympathy for President Cyril Ramaphosa's concerns regarding the Section 89 impeachment process, stating that Ramaphosa was aware of the process before becoming president and that "humiliation is part of the job." This occurred during the Western Cape High Court hearing of Ramaphosa's urgent application to halt the impeachment proceedings pending a review of the Section 89 Independent Panel report. Advocates for the African Transformation Movement ATM and MK party argued that Ramaphosa has fabricated issues concerning the impeachment process. Ramaphosa's lawyer, Advocate Wim Trengove SC, questioned whether the panel applied the correct test in concluding that the president had a case to answer, emphasizing the need for "sufficient evidence." Trengove also reiterated the president's fear of a "humiliation ritual" if the impeachment process proceeds before his review application. However, Judge Francis noted that the review application could lead to further legal processes, potentially delaying a definitive statement on the president's actions and keeping the public waiting. He suggested that accountability mechanisms should continue in parallel with the review. Trengove countered that while people must be protected against "delinquent presidents," they also need protection against impeachment proceedings that could humiliate a president without justification. He also argued that the president should not be blamed for delays in the case, as
Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga emphasized the need for government to move beyond policy and address inaccessible schools, stigma, and a lack of resources to ensure quality education for students with disabilities. Speaking at the Recreation Aid Foundation Graduation Ceremony, Chikunga stated that the primary obstacles to inclusive education in South Africa are not disabilities themselves, but rather exclusionary education systems and environments. She highlighted that many schools, particularly in townships, rural areas, and farming communities, remain inaccessible, preventing students from participating with dignity. Chikunga also pointed out that a shortage of assistive devices and insufficient teacher training undermine inclusive education, noting that students with disabilities are often perceived as "problems" or "extra work." She called for special schools to be transformed into resource hubs for mainstream schools, offering specialist expertise and adaptive curricula. Chikunga also advocated for stronger pathways between schools, Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges, community projects, and employers to improve employment opportunities for young people with disabilities. She announced initiatives such as a R1 billion Disability Support Fund from the Department of Higher Education's National Skills Fund and a proposal to pair special schools with state-owned enterprises for infrastructure