South Africa’s Department of Social Development is facing heavy scrutiny after reports that it spent R3-million on a two-week trip to New York. In the middle of this storm is the department’s long-serving Chief Director of Communications, Lumka Oliphant — now suspended with full pay pending an investigation. Oliphant insists she is being unfairly targeted, accused of leaking information to the media because of her past as a journalist and her professional history with publications like City Press. Tonight, she joins us to respond to these allegations, to unpack the politics inside the department, and to ask an important question: when scandals break, do government spokespeople take the fall for their bosses and institutions?

<p>South Africa&rsquo;s Department of Social Development is facing heavy&nbsp;scrutiny after reports that it spent R3-million on a two-week trip to&nbsp;New York. In the middle of this storm is the department&rsquo;s&nbsp;long-serving Chief Director of Communications, Lumka Oliphant&nbsp;&mdash; now suspended with full pay pending an investigation. Oliphant&nbsp;insists she is being unfairly targeted, accused of leaking&nbsp;information to the media because of her past as a journalist and&nbsp;her professional history with publications like City Press. Tonight,&nbsp;she joins us to respond to these allegations, to unpack the&nbsp;politics inside the department, and to ask an important question:&nbsp;when scandals break, do government spokespeople take the fall&nbsp;for their bosses and institutions?</p>

<p>METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope </p>