Social Development Department communications chief director Lumka Oliphant has been placed on precautionary suspension pending the outcome of an investigation into potential misconduct, following findings in an Auditor General report, although the nature of the alleged misconduct remains unspecified.

In a statement Social Development director-general Peter Netshipale confirmed that Oliphant’s suspension was on full pay.

The Sunday Times has recently reported on the department’s R3-million spending on sending delegates, including the Social Development Minister, to a New York workshop.

Oliphant spoke out against the suspension in a public statement, saying she was not surprised, claiming that the department believed that she leaked that information to the Sunday Times.

She pointed to alleged infighting in the department, claiming that the Auditor General findings had “nothing to do with me”.