Key Takeaways:
- A bitter clash is unfolding between social development minister Sisisi Tolashe and her predecessor, Lindiwe Zulu, over DSDTV, an in-house communications channel.
- DSDTV was launched in July 2023 under Zulu and was claimed to have saved the department millions, but has been suspended and is under investigation due to allegations of mismanagement of public funds.
- The auditor-general has uncovered potential mismanagement of public funds on DSDTV, prompting Tolashe to suspend the channel pending a formal investigation.
- Zulu has responded angrily, accusing Tolashe of misleading parliament and casting doubt on the integrity of the advisers involved in the project.
- The issue has become politically charged, with concerns raised about the department’s priorities and the allocation of funds.
Introduction to the Controversy
A bitter clash is unfolding between social development minister Sisisi Tolashe and her predecessor, Lindiwe Zulu, over DSDTV, an in-house communications channel that was launched in July 2023 under Zulu. The platform, which was claimed to have saved the department millions, has been suspended and is under investigation due to allegations of mismanagement of public funds. The controversy surrounding DSDTV has become the latest flashpoint in a department beset by financial controversies, with concerns raised about the department’s priorities and the allocation of funds.
The Launch of DSDTV
DSDTV was launched in July 2023 by Zulu as a staff-driven initiative to communicate South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) notices and departmental news more efficiently. At the launch of the project, Zulu said it was not meant to compete with mainstream media, but rather to complement it by providing it with free usable content. The platform was credited with covering the Brics summit, international child repatriation cases, and other government events that were then disseminated by local and international media. Zulu said the decision to introduce the platform was also motivated by the DSD’s reliance on the government communication & information system, which cost it R29m between 2020 and 2022 for content services.
Allegations of Mismanagement
However, Tolashe has alleged that DSDTV was introduced without a business plan, operated for nearly two years without proper monitoring, and had been characterized by the questionable appointment of various service providers. The auditor-general has uncovered potential mismanagement of public funds on DSDTV, prompting Tolashe to suspend the channel pending a formal investigation. The investigation is expected to be concluded before the end of the financial year in April 2026. Tolashe has also detailed the costs associated with DSDTV, including R1.5m for hardware, R1m for the platform, R500,000 for live-streaming equipment, and R1.04m to service provider Vula Connect in 2023/24.
Response from Zulu and Oliphant
Zulu has responded angrily to the allegations, accusing Tolashe of misleading parliament and casting doubt on the integrity of the advisers involved in the project. Lumka Oliphant, the former communications head who was suspended over alleged mismanagement of the integrated justice programme and unauthorised expenditure on DSDTV, has also accused Tolashe of lying to parliament. Oliphant has called for parliament to summon all parties involved, including herself, to peruse every document related to DSDTV. Zulu has also questioned the motives of the advisers involved in the project, asking why they had changed their stories.
Political Fallout
The issue has become politically charged, with concerns raised about the department’s priorities and the allocation of funds. ActionSA MP Dereleen James has raised questions about the spending on DSDTV, given the more pressing issues facing the department, such as the shutdown of rehab centers and the dire need for social workers across the country. The controversy surrounding DSDTV is just the latest in a series of financial scandals to hit the department, including R100m for gender-based violence programs that were redirected without proper oversight, the alleged misappropriation of R536m from social grants between 2012 and 2022, and R215m in irregular expenditure incurred by the Gauteng DSD in 2024/25 alone.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding DSDTV has highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in the department of social development. The allegations of mismanagement of public funds and the lack of a business plan for the project have raised serious concerns about the department’s priorities and the allocation of funds. The investigation into DSDTV is expected to shed more light on the matter, and it is hoped that it will lead to greater transparency and accountability in the department. Ultimately, the controversy surrounding DSDTV serves as a reminder of the importance of good governance and the need for those in power to be held accountable for their actions.