Recent reports have accused Minister Sisisi Tolashe of leading a bloated delegation on a R3-million junket to New York

Recent commentary has cast Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, in a negative light, with headlines claiming she led a bloated multimillion-rand "junket" to New York. While such framing may capture attention, it risks oversimplifying government processes and unfairly placing individual blame where institutional procedures are at play.

According to official government communication, the national South African delegation to the 69th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) was led by Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, the Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. Minister Tolashe was part of the broader South African presence, but she did not lead the delegation.

The Department of Social Development (DSD), in line with its mandate on social and gender policy, deployed officials to support the national delegation. The DSD has publicly confirmed that the total departmental expenditure amounted to approximately R3 million. This amount reflects the cost of officials supporting the delegation, not personal spending by Minister Tolashe.

Minister Tolashe has also committed to submitting a full expenditure report to Parliament, reinforcing the department's commitment to transparency and accountability.

Some media outlets, including TimesLIVE, Daily Maverick, and News24, have implied or outright stated that Minister Tolashe personally led the trip and was responsible for its full cost. This assertion does not align with the facts. The ongoing blurring of lines between departmental expenditure and personal action undermines public understanding of how government participation in international platforms actually works.

Questions have also been raised about staffing within the Minister’s office. It is important to note that the current Acting Chief of Staff is not receiving a salary for that role, but continues to earn her existing salary as Private Secretary. She was temporarily appointed due to the absence of a permanent candidate. The Minister is within her rights to headhunt a suitable candidate for this strategic role on a contractual basis.

Media analysis has also neglected crucial contextual factors influencing the cost of international trips during CSW sessions:

CSW69 is a major global event, with 45 United Nations Member States participating. As a result, hotel prices in New York skyrocket during this period, as accommodation providers seek to maximize revenue from the influx of international delegates.

The timing of this trip coincided with Donald Trump’s recent election as President of the United States, an event that disrupted financial markets and accelerated inflation, further pushing up local prices for goods and services, including accommodation and transport.

These global factors directly impacted the cost of travel and accommodation during CSW69, factors which were well outside the control of individual departments or Ministers.

South Africa’s participation in global forums on gender, youth, and social development is part of our constitutional and international obligations, not a luxury. While public scrutiny of expenditure is welcome and necessary, it must be grounded in fact-based reporting.

Minister Tolashe should not be accused of personally leading a R3-million junket, when in truth:

• The delegation was led by another Minister,

• The expenditure was departmental, not personal, and

• Costs were impacted by global economic factors, not individual choices.

We call on media houses, commentators, and civil society at large to exercise greater care and responsibility in how narratives around public expenditure are shaped. South Africans deserve transparency, yes, but also fairness and truth.

By Movement for Social Change RSA

Facts on the article found on the following:

Government of South Africa – Media Advisory: Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga leads SA delegation to CSW69, March 2025.TimesLIVE, Daily Maverick, News24 coverage on New York delegation costs, March–April 2025.