The National Executive Committee of the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) has placed its president, Sisisi Tolashe, on administrative leave while internal disciplinary proceedings move forward, according to confirmation from league Secretary-General Nokuthula Nqaba.
Nqaba will temporarily assume presidential duties until the disciplinary process reaches conclusion. The decision follows allegations concerning vehicles that were referred to the ANC’s integrity commission, which subsequently presented findings to the league’s leadership structure.
Process-Driven Decision
Speaking on the matter, Nqaba explained that the leave of absence was not a suspension but a procedural measure designed to allow Tolashe to engage fully with the disciplinary process. “She is currently subjected to the disciplinary processes, and because of that reason we had to take a decision on our own: if she’s subjected to disciplinary processes, therefore we must give her space to focus on that,” Nqaba stated.
The ANC’s integrity commission had recommended that Tolashe resign from positions of power. While the league acknowledges and accepts this recommendation as binding, Nqaba noted that enforcement of such a resignation rests with the ANC president. She also confirmed that Tolashe was previously removed from her ministerial role by the country’s president.
Balancing Autonomy and Unity
Addressing questions about the league’s operational independence, Nqaba emphasized that while the ANCWL maintains its constitutional autonomy, it remains an integral component of the broader ANC structure. “We have accepted the report from the ANC that covers also the recommendations from the integrity commission. Their decisions bind all of us,” she said.
The league’s approach, Nqaba explained, is guided by constitutional principles including the presumption of innocence. At the same time, leadership prioritized safeguarding the reputations of both the ANC and the Women’s League during a sensitive period.
Leadership Engagement and Member Sentiment
Nqaba addressed public commentary suggesting the league may be postponing necessary action or protecting individuals from accountability. She noted that the league’s membership understands internal governance protocols. “Our constituency has a better understanding of the internal processes of the organization which we have to prioritize above our own feelings about the matter itself,” she said.
Regarding direct engagement with Tolashe, Nqaba shared that the president has remained cooperative and reflective. “She’s very clear that whatever decision is taken, I am not above the organization. Nothing shall come to an end because I am going through this process. If it means that I should be taken aside, I am willing to do so without any hesitation.”
When pressed on what Tolashe specifically admitted to, Nqaba clarified that the president acknowledged the legitimacy of the disciplinary process and her obligation to participate in it, while maintaining her innocence pending final determination. “She admitted to the processes that she’s subjected to—that she’s not above any other process,” Nqaba explained.
Wider Context and Pending Matters
Nqaba acknowledged that the ANC Veterans League has publicly called for five senior ANC figures, including Tolashe, to voluntarily step aside following integrity commission findings. She confirmed the Women’s League accepts the commission’s recommendations while awaiting formal outcomes from the disciplinary process.
The matter is currently also subject to external legal proceedings initiated by multiple political parties, alongside the ANC’s internal disciplinary track.
When asked about separate media reports linking another league figure, identified as Maropene Ramokgopa, to allegations involving multiple vehicles of the same model, Nqaba declined to comment. She noted that Maropene serves as second deputy secretary-general of the ANC and that such matters fall outside her mandate to address. “The Secretary-General of the ANC is better placed to elaborate on the matter,” she said.
Nqaba affirmed that the ANCWL will act decisively and in accordance with its constitution once the disciplinary process concludes. Until then, the league maintains that the administrative leave arrangement serves both procedural fairness and organizational stability.