A dispute has erupted between current and former leadership at South Africa’s Department of Social Development (DSD) over DSDTV, an in-house communications channel. The platform is currently suspended and under investigation, adding to a series of financial controversies within the department.
Clash Over DSDTV’s Origins and Oversight
Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe informed parliament last week that DSDTV, launched in July 2023 under her predecessor Lindiwe Zulu, was initiated without a formal business plan. Tolashe further stated the channel operated for almost two years without adequate monitoring and involved potentially questionable appointments of service providers.
The auditor-general’s findings of “potential mismanagement of public funds” on DSDTV prompted Tolashe to suspend the channel, pending a formal investigation. This suspension followed a report in the Sunday Times detailing what it characterized as wasteful spending, including a R3 million trip to a United Nations event in New York.
Dismissals and Accusations of Misleading Parliament
Two months after the Sunday Times report, Lumka Oliphant, the former communications head and a key figure in establishing DSDTV, was suspended due to alleged mismanagement of the integrated justice programme and unauthorized spending related to the channel. She was subsequently dismissed without a disciplinary hearing.
Lindiwe Zulu has strongly objected to Tolashe’s statements, accusing the current minister of misleading parliament. She also questioned the consistency of the advisors involved in the project, stating, “Those very same advisers who were involved at the start are still there today. Why have they changed their stories?”
Oliphant echoed Zulu’s sentiments, accusing Tolashe of lying to parliament and calling for a comprehensive review of all DSDTV documentation. “It’s clear that Sisisi Tolashe has [had] to sustain the lie,” Oliphant told the Sunday Times.
Financial Details and Lack of Evaluation
Responding to questions from ActionSA MP Dereleen James, Tolashe revealed that no cost-benefit analysis was conducted to justify the creation of DSDTV or to assess its performance. She stated, “To date, no monitoring and evaluation has been done to quantify the reach, value-for-money, effectiveness and efficiency of DSDTV since it was launched.”
Tolashe provided a breakdown of costs, including R1.5 million for hardware, R1 million for the platform itself, R500,000 for live-streaming equipment, R1.04 million to Vula Connect in 2023/24 and R937,548 in 2024/25, and R1.1 million to the Axab Group in the current financial year.
Broader Context of Financial Concerns
While the spending on DSDTV itself is relatively modest, the controversy occurs within a broader context of financial concerns at the DSD. These include R100 million redirected from gender-based violence (GBV) programs without proper oversight, alleged misappropriation of R536 million from social grants between 2012 and 2022, and R215 million in irregular expenditure by the Gauteng DSD in 2024/25.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the suspension of DSDTV?
The suspension of DSDTV was prompted by the auditor-general’s findings of “potential mismanagement of public funds” and followed a report in the Sunday Times detailing alleged wasteful spending.
Did DSDTV have a business plan when it was launched?
According to Minister Tolashe’s statements to parliament, DSDTV was launched in July 2023 without a formal business plan.
What is the timeline for the investigation into DSDTV?
The investigation into the platform is expected to be concluded before the end of the financial year in April 2026.
As the investigation proceeds, it remains to be seen whether evidence of mismanagement will be substantiated, and what impact the findings will have on those involved. The outcome could lead to further scrutiny of departmental spending and potentially influence future decisions regarding in-house communication strategies.
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