Oliphant declares 'I won't be silenced' after being fired

EMBATTLED former Department of Social Development (DSD) communicator Lumka Oliphant has spoken out after her dismissal from the post, saying she will not be silenced despite what she describes as a campaign against her.

- SIMON MAJADIBODU

LUMKA Oliphant | Supplied SOCIAL Development Minister Sisi Tolashe. | GCIS

(Supplied GCIS)

Oliphant, who has long been at odds with Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe, said she was moved by messages of support from South Africans who have faced similar treatment. The department announced she was fired on Friday in a letter signed by the directors-general.

"The many black professionals who have been purged, silenced because we fear for our lives and worry about where our next job will come from," she said.

"At this point, I should remind you that Mandela once said 'if the ANC were to do what the apartheid government did to us, we must do to the ANC what we did to the apartheid government."

Oliphant said she had reflected deeply since her suspension and dismissal.