Lindiwe Sisulu

An SA Tourism proposal envisaged spending approximately one billion rand to sponsor Tottenham Hotspur, prompting strong public and parliamentary opposition to such expenditure. Parliament's Tourism Committee called for the plan to be abandoned and examined.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

The Public Protector concluded that Sisulu had exceeded her powers in appointing members of her department's National Rapid Response Task Team, which was criticised for including several political allies and for its cost. The report classified the appointments as improper conduct and maladministration.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

In a January 2022 opinion article, Sisulu criticised the post-apartheid constitutional framework and described certain senior black judges as "mentally colonised". Acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo denounced what he considered a serious insult to the judiciary, and President Ramaphosa publicly reprimanded her.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated

Sisulu's ministry recruited a group of Cuban engineers to support water infrastructure. The Solidarity trade union challenged the decision, arguing that South African engineers were available and that the arrangement was costly, and initiated review proceedings.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

COVID temporary housing contracts in the Eastern Cape, particularly at Duncan Village, were included in SIU investigations. Revelations highlighted that a company linked to businessman Edwin Sodi had obtained a contract, although Sisulu had given a different account of Sodi's relationship with the company, raising questions about governance and information provided to Parliament.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

Attribution

Political responsibility

In 2013, Sisulu appointed Menzi Simelane as a special adviser shortly after the Constitutional Court upheld the invalidity of his previous appointment as National Director of Public Prosecutions, in a judgment questioning the rationality of the process and identifying serious integrity concerns. In 2020, serving in another ministry, she again appointed him as an adviser, alongside former intelligence official Mo Shaik, reviving the controversy.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Sisulu appointed ORCA and Open Water Advanced Risk Solutions to investigate Amatola Water. Journalistic investigations and parliamentarians raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest involving Open Water and people connected with the matter. The suspension of CEO Vuyo Zitumane, occurring in this context, was subsequently found by the CCMA to be an unfair labour practice, as the decision had been taken at Sisulu's instigation even though she was a third party.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

A parliamentary answer initially attributed 203 chartered flights costing more than 40 million rand to Sisulu. The ministry subsequently acknowledged that this answer was incorrect. Sisulu maintained that the actual figure was 35 chartered flights costing approximately 11 million rand, with the other journeys made on government aircraft. The corrected expenditure nevertheless prompted calls for an investigation and criticism of public spending.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Following an unlawful and violent demonstration by South African National Defence Union members in August 2009, Sisulu announced dismissals and issued dismissal notices affecting numerous soldiers. The union went to court; rulings suspended or overturned dismissals and ordered some service personnel reinstated. Sisulu also defended a policy of removing trade union influence from the SANDF.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility