{{Short description|South African politician (born 1959)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}} {{Use South African English|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Sisisi Tolashe | honorific_suffix = MP | image = | image_size = | caption = | office = Minister of Social Development | deputy = Ganief Hendricks | term_start = 3 July 2024 | term_end = 14 May 2026 | predecessor = Lindiwe Zulu | successor = | office1 = President of the African National Congress Women's League | president1 = Cyril Ramaphosa | term_start1 = 23 July 2023 | term_end1 = | predecessor1 = Bathabile Dlamini | successor1 = | office2 = Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities | term_start2 = 6 March 2023 | term_start3 = 22 May 2019 | term_end3 = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|12|21|df=yes}} | birth_place = Queenstown, Cape Province<br />Union of South Africa | death_date = | death_place = | party = African National Congress | minister = | honorific_prefix = The Honourable | minister2 = Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma | successor2 = Steve Letsike | president2 = Cyril Ramaphosa | term_start4 = 5 September 2016 | term_end4 = 25 February 2018 {{Collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |Prior offices<br />{{nobold|2001–2019}} |titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes | office4 = Executive Mayor of Enoch Mgijima | term_start4 = 26 February 2018 | term_end4 = May 2019 | predecessor4 = Lindiwe Gunuza-Nkwentsha | successor4 = Sibusiso Mvana | office5 = Secretary-General of the African National Congress Women's League | term_start5 = 6 July 2008 | term_end5 = August 2015 | predecessor5 = Bathabile Dlamini | successor5 = Meokgo Matuba | president5 = Angie Motshekga | deputy5 = Mpai Mogori | office6 = Member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature | term_start6 = 29 January 2001 | term_end6 = 2008 {{Collapsed infobox section end}} }} | term_end2 = 19 June 2024 | deputy1 = Lungi Mnganga-Gcabashe | president = Cyril Ramaphosa | predecessor2 = Hlengiwe Mkhize | office3 = Member of the National Assembly }} '''Nokuzola Gladys Tolashe''' (born 21 December 1959), also known as '''Sisisi "Sisi" Tolashe''', is a South African politician from the Eastern Cape. A member of the African National Congress (ANC), she was the Minister of Social Development from June 2024 until May 2026 and the president of the ANC Women's League since July 2023.
Tolashe was a member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature between 2001 and 2008, and she rose to national political prominence as the secretary-general of the ANC Women's League under President Angie Motshekga. She was secretary-general from July 2008 until she was ousted in August 2015. She went on to serve as a backbencher in the National Assembly from 2016 to 2018 and then as mayor of the Eastern Cape's Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality from 2018 to 2019. She returned to the National Assembly in the 2019 general election and was appointed to the national executive by President Cyril Ramaphosa in March 2023, first as Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and then, after the 2024 general election, as Minister of Social Development.
Tolashe has been a member of the ANC National Executive Committee since December 2022, and she previously served in the committee between 2007 and 2017.
== Early life and activism == Tolashe was born on 21 December 1959<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019 |title=National Assembly List |url=https://www.elections.org.za/ieconline/Documents/2019%20NPE%20List%20Of%20Reprensentatives/National%20Assembly%20List%20-%20Gazette.pdf |access-date=22 July 2023 |website=Electoral Commission of South Africa}}</ref> in Queenstown in the former Cape Province.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Deputy Minister |url=https://www.n-preview.co.za/index.php/about-us/deputy-minister |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. |language=en-gb}}</ref> She entered politics through youth organisations in the anti-apartheid movement and served in various civic organisations under the United Democratic Front.<ref name=":1" /> In the 1980s, she was detained without trial for five years – three years under Section 29 of the Internal Security Act, and two years under the prevailing state of emergency regulations.<ref name=":1" />
== Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature: 2001–2008 == On 29 January 2001, Tolashe was sworn in to the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature, where she filled a casual vacancy in the caucus of her political party, the African National Congress (ANC).<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 January 2001 |title=New MPLs told to be honourable |work=East Cape News |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/200101290285.html |access-date=22 July 2023}}</ref> She served in the provincial legislature until 2008.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=27 February 2018 |title=#CabinetReshuffle: Mabuza, Nene to be sworn in as MPs |work=IOL |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/cabinetreshuffle-mabuza-nene-to-be-sworn-in-as-mps-13506138 |access-date=22 July 2023}}</ref>
During her tenure, in December 2007, Tolashe attended the mainstream ANC's 52nd National Conference, where she was elected to a five-year term as a member of the ANC National Executive Committee. Her candidacy had been endorsed by the Congress of South African Trade Unions,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-10-25 |title=Cosatu's wish list |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2007-10-26-cosatus-wish-list/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> and she received 1,574 votes from the roughly 4,000 delegates at the conference, making her the 59th-most popular candidate of the 80 ordinary members elected to the committee.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-12-20 |title=Shake-up in ANC national executive |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2007-12-20-shakeup-in-anc-national-executive/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref>
== ANCWL Secretary-General: 2008–2015 == Her departure from the legislature followed her election as national Secretary-General of the ANC Women's League (ANCWL), a full-time position based out of Luthuli House. She was elected to that office on 6 July 2008 at a league conference in Bloemfontein.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=6 July 2008 |title=Motshekga to lead ANCWL |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/motshekga-to-lead-ancwl-20080706 |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> She succeeded Bathabile Dlamini who, at the same conference, was beaten by Angie Motshekga in the race for the ANCWL presidency. Mpai Mogori was elected as Tolashe's deputy.<ref name=":3" />
At the ANC's 53rd National Conference in December 2012, Tolashe was re-elected to the ANC National Executive Committee, ranked 56th with 1,715 votes from 4,500 delegates.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dlamini-Zuma most popular ANC NEC leader |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/dlamini-zuma-most-popular-anc-nec-leader-20150430 |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 December 2012 |title=Full ANC NEC list |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/full-anc-nec-list-20150429 |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> After the conference, the ANCWL was criticised for failing to field women candidates for the top leadership positions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-12-18 |title=The ANCWL is an obstacle to gender equality |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2014-12-18-the-ancwl-is-an-obstacle-to-gender-equality/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> In October 2013, Tolashe said that the mainstream ANC would have a woman president "in time", and that, though the time had not yet arrived, "I think we are almost there now."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-10-08 |title=What would it take for the ANCWL to choose a woman president? |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2013-10-08-00-what-would-the-anc-womens-league-need-for-a-woman-president/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref>
Both Motshekga and Tolashe were voted out of the ANCWL leadership at the league's next elective conference, held in August 2015 after a long delay. Meokgo Matuba won the Secretary-General position, beating Tolashe by 348 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 August 2015 |title=Dlamini beats Motshekga in bruising ANC Women's League battle |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/dlamini-beats-motshekga-in-bruising-anc-womens-league-battle-20150808 |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Return to government ==
=== National Assembly: 2016–2018 === On 5 September 2016, Tolashe was sworn in to an ANC seat in the National Assembly, the lower house of the South African Parliament. She replaced Raesibe Nyalungu, who died.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=National Assembly Members |url=https://static.pmg.org.za/181113_NA_MEMBERS_ALPHABETIC.pdf |access-date=16 June 2022 |website=Parliamentary Monitoring Group}}</ref> She was a member of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies and an alternate member of the Portfolio Committees on Labour and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.<ref name="PA">{{Cite web |title=Nokuzola Gladys Tolashe |url=http://www.pa.org.za/person/nokuzola-gladys-tolashe/ |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=People's Assembly |language=en}}</ref> Concurrently, she continued to serve in the ANC National Executive Committee – and apparently remained a supporter of ANC President Jacob Zuma<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 May 2017 |title='Zuma must go or face pain in parliament' — ANC faction warns |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/news/2017-05-28-zuma-must-go-or-face-pain-in-parliament--anc-faction-warns/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=Sunday Times |language=en-ZA}}</ref> – until the party's 54th National Conference in December 2017, at which she failed to gain re-election.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 December 2017 |title=Meet the new ANC NEC |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/meet-the-new-anc-nec-20171221 |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref>
Tolashe's term in the National Assembly lasted less than two years: she resigned on 25 February 2018,<ref name=":4" /> ceding her seat to Daniel Jabu Kabini.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 August 2018 |title=Minister Nomvula Mokonyane finally becomes an MP |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2018-08-14-minister-nomvula-mokonyane-finally-becomes-an-mp/ |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=Sowetan |language=en-ZA}}</ref>
=== Mayor of Enoch Mgijma: 2018–2019 === Tolashe left Parliament to accept election as Executive Mayor of the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality, her hometown in the Eastern Cape.<ref name=":2" /> She was elected on 26 February, replacing the embattled Lindiwe Gunuza-Nkwentsha as part of an ANC campaign to stabilise mismanaged municipalities.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=26 February 2018 |title=ANC Eastern Cape Welcomes the Election of Enoch Mgijima Executive Mayor |url=https://anceasterncape.org.za/anc-eastern-cape-welcomes-the-election-of-enoch-mgijima-executive-mayor/ |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=ANC Eastern Cape |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 January 2019 |title=Three more EC councils in line for troika shakeups |url=https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/politics/2019-01-10-three-more-ec-councils-in-line-for-troika-shakeups/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=Daily Dispatch |language=en-ZA}}</ref>
Her tenure in the mayoral office was brief. In the 2019 general election, she was nominated to return to the National Assembly, ranked 11th on the ANC's regional party list for the Eastern Cape constituency.<ref name="PA" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 May 2019 |title=These are the people who will represent you in Parliament, provincial legislatures |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/Elections/News/see-these-are-the-people-who-will-represent-you-in-parliament-provincial-legislatures-20190515 |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> After the election, Sibusiso Mvana succeeded her as mayor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bonani |first=Andisa |date=2019-07-15 |title=Fourth mayor in less than three years in EMLM |url=https://www.therep.co.za/2019/07/15/fourth-mayor-in-less-than-three-years-in-emlm/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=The Rep |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Return to the National Assembly: 2019–present === Upon her return to Parliament, Tolashe was appointed as a member of the Portfolio Committee on Transport and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.<ref name="PA" /> In addition, on 24 June 2020, she was elected unopposed to chair the ad hoc parliamentary committee tasked with finding a successor to Kimi Makwetu, the Auditor-General of South Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 June 2020 |title=Parliament gets the ball rolling on finding SA's new auditor-general |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-06-24-parliament-gets-the-ball-rolling-on-finding-sas-new-auditor-general/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=Sowetan |language=en-ZA}}</ref> The committee concluded its work in October, unanimously recommending Tsakani Maluleke for the position.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunter |first=Qaanitah |date=20 October 2020 |title=Deputy Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke gets the nod for top job |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/deputy-auditor-general-tsakani-maluleke-gets-the-nod-for-top-job-20201020 |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2021, Tolashe was appointed as a member of another ad hoc committee, the Committee for Section 194 Enquiry into the Public Protector.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=7 April 2021 |title=Parties deploy heavyweights for Busisiwe Mkhwebane probe |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2021-04-07-parties-deploy-heavyweights-for-busisiwe-mkhwebane-probe/ |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=Sunday Times |language=en-ZA}}</ref>
In May 2022, Tolashe was elected to the 30-member Provincial Executive Committee of the Eastern Cape branch of the ANC.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |date=11 May 2022 |title=Three ANC Eastern Cape politicians allegedly linked to Nelson Mandela funeral fraud miss out on PEC election |work=Pretoria News |url=https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/news/three-anc-eastern-cape-politicians-allegedly-linked-to-nelson-mandela-funeral-fraud-miss-out-on-pec-election-df1bcbdb-2cc5-4bc0-a57b-d681a4f2c9ff |access-date=22 July 2023}}</ref> In December, the ANC's 55th National Conference elected her to return to the National Executive Committee; she was elected narrowly, ranked 77th of 80 members with 973 votes from the 4,400 delegates.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 December 2022 |title=Full list: ANC NEC members |url=https://www.enca.com/news/full-list-anc-nec-members |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=eNCA |language=en}}</ref> At the conference, she reportedly supported Cyril Ramaphosa's bid for re-election as ANC President; she was linked politically to Oscar Mabuyane and his allies in the Eastern Cape, a group sometimes nicknamed the Chris Hani Cabal.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2023-07-22 |title=ANCWL: Last minute horse-trading could see Mchunu and Dlamini camp merger |url=https://mg.co.za/politics/2023-07-22-ancwl-last-minute-horse-trading-could-see-mchunu-and-dlamini-camp-merger/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref name=":5" />
==== Deputy Minister in the Presidency ==== On 6 March 2023, President Ramaphosa announced a cabinet reshuffle in which Tolashe was appointed as Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. She deputised Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who was also newly appointed to the portfolio.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-07 |title=Ramaphosa bolsters his presidency in cabinet reshuffle |url=https://mg.co.za/politics/2023-03-07-ramaphosa-bolsters-his-presidency-in-cabinet-reshuffle/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-06 |title=Ramaphosa's changes to the cabinet |url=https://mg.co.za/news/2023-03-06-read-in-full-ramaphosas-changes-to-the-cabinet/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref>
==== ANC Women's League presidency ==== In July 2023, the ANCWL held its first elective conference since the 2015 meeting at which Tolashe had been voted out of the leadership. Tolashe was viewed as a frontrunner for election to the league's presidency,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Masuabi |first=Queenin |date=2023-05-10 |title=Bathabile Dlamini and Sisisi Tolashe set to vie for top post in ANCWL elections next month |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-05-10-anc-womens-league-to-moot-increase-in-number-of-its-national-officials/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}</ref> running with the support of Ramaphosa and his allies, including Pemmy Majodina and Angie Motshekga.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=21 July 2023 |title=Can Bathabile Dlamini mount a comeback as ANCWL boss against fierce opponent Tolashe? |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2023-07-21-can-bathabile-dlamini-mount-a-comeback-as-ancwl-boss-against-fierce-opponent-tolashe/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=Sunday Times |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-03 |title=Sisisi Tolashe versus Bathabile Dlamini for ANC Women's League president |url=https://mg.co.za/news/2023-05-03-sisisi-tolashe-versus-bathabile-dlamini-for-anc-womens-league-president/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> Her slate of running mates included Lungi Gcabashe, Nokuthula Nqaba, and, until her death, Tina Joemat-Pettersson.<ref name=":7" /> She stood against Bathabile Dlamini, the outgoing ANCWL President, and Thembeka Mchunu ultimately emerged as another pro-Ramaphosa candidate.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-22 |title=Bury the demon of factionalism, ANCWL's Baleka Mbete tells conference delegates |url=https://mg.co.za/politics/2023-07-22-bury-the-demon-of-factionalism-ancwls-baleka-mbete-tells-conference-delegates/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref>
At the conference held from 21 to 23 July 2023, Tolashe had the most branch nominations for the president position; she had received 1,564 nominations while her competitors Mchunu and Dlamini received 796 and 258 nominations respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahlati |first=Zintle |title=Former ANCWL leader Bathabile Dlamini the least-nominated candidate for presidency by branches |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/politics/political-parties/bathabile-dlamini-the-least-nominated-candidate-for-ancwl-presidency-by-branches-20230723 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> On the final day of the conference, Tolashe was announced as the league's new president, having received 1,729 votes while Mchunu and Dlamini got 1,038 and 170 votes respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Madia |first=Tshidi |title=Sisisi Tolashe elected new ANCWL president |url=https://ewn.co.za/2023/07/23/sisisi-tolashe-elected-new-ancwl-president |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=ewn.co.za |language=en}}</ref>
==== Minister of Social Development ==== After the 2024 general election, President Ramaphosa appointed Tolashe as Minister of Social Development.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=1 July 2024 |title=South Africa's 7th administration Cabinet ministers and deputies |url=https://www.ewn.co.za/2024/06/30/full-list-south-africa-s-7th-administration-cabinet-ministers-and-deputies |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=EWN |language=en}}</ref>
==== Corruption allegations ==== In April 2026, Tolashe was called before the ANC's Integrity Commission following allegations that she took two luxury SUVs, donated to the ANCWL by Chinese officials, and gave them to her adult children.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Rebecca |date=April 9, 2026 |title=Minister Sisisi Tolashe to appear before ANC's Integrity Commission over SUV scandal |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-04-09-minister-sisisi-tolashe-to-appear-before-ancs-integrity-commission-over-suv-scandal/ |access-date=2026-04-09 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}</ref>
Tolashe was subsequently fired by President Cyril Ramaphosa in terms of section 91(2) of the South African constitution.<ref>https://www.news24.com/politics/ramaphosa-fires-social-development-minister-sisisi-tolashe-20260514-0693</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{People's Assembly (South Africa)|nokuzola-gladys-tolashe|Nokuzola Gladys Tolashe}} *[https://www.parliament.gov.za/person-details/361 Nokuzola Gladys Tolashe] at Parliament of South Africa *[https://www.gov.za/about-government/contact-directory/presidency-women-youth-and-persons-disabilities-ministry/sisisi Sisisi Tolashe] at South African Government {{Current MPs of South Africa}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tolashe, Sisisi}} Category:Living people Category:1959 births Category:Xhosa people Category:People from Queenstown, South Africa Category:African National Congress politicians Category:Members of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2014–2019 Category:Women members of the National Assembly of South Africa Category:Mayors of places in South Africa Category:Women mayors of places in South Africa Category:21st-century South African women politicians