President Cyril Ramaphosa will not take action against Deputy Health Minister Sibongiseni Dhlomo in connection with allegations of sexual assault until Parliament's processes have run their course.

Sunday Times reported that Dhlomo was accused of sexually assaulting a parliamentary staffer at his state-provided home in Rondebosch, Cape Town on 5 September. 

The complainant is a male parliamentary researcher and works for an opposition party.

According to the complainant, Dhlomo groped him after he was led to his bedroom. This was reportedly not the first time Dhlomo tried to lure the man to his house.

News24 approached Dhlomo for comment, but the request was ignored.

National Department of Health spokesperson Foster Mohale said: "Note that Deputy Minister Dr Dhlomo takes these allegations seriously, he will allow the investigation process to unfold without him making public statements on the matter to avoid jeopardising [the] process."

Parliament's spokesperson Moloto Mothapo confirmed that a sexual harassment complaint involving a national Cabinet minister had been submitted to National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

"The speaker is treating this allegation with utmost seriousness as it concerns a potential breach of the ethical code for members of Parliament. Consequently, she swiftly advised that the matter be referred to the ethics committee of Parliament for a thorough investigation.

"Furthermore, the speaker has taken steps to ensure a supportive environment for the alleged victim by directing that the administration of Parliament immediately arrange professional counselling. In light of the person against whom a complaint is made is also a member of the Executive, the speaker has also informed the president," he said.

Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, told News24 that the president would allow due processes to run their course and "await the outcome of the investigations".

Meanwhile, in a statement on Monday, the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests confirmed it had received a complaint against Dhlomo.

The co-chairpersons of the committee, Bekizwe Nkosi and Lydia Moshodi, said their work would be guided by the relevant rules.

Furthermore, they said any complaint was guided by the principle of promptness, fairness, and consistency.

"The complaint was officially tabled in a scheduled meeting of the committee held on 20 October 2023. During this meeting, the committee decided to consider the matter through the establishment of a subcommittee scheduled to sit in November to hear the matter. Furthermore, the committee is precluded by the code from making running commentary on a complaint," it said.

Police are reportedly also investigating the matter after a complaint was filed at Rondebosch SAPS.

Democratic Alliance MP and spokesperson on health, Michele Clarke, said the DA took allegations of such a nature very seriously and urged the committee to conclude the in-depth investigation as soon as possible and make their findings public.

"The accusations of sexual assault against the [deputy] minister are of serious concern and we hope that the truth of the matter – whatever it may be – would be revealed soon," Clarke said.