NELSPRUIT – The Public Protector (PP) has recommended that Ms Dina Pule, former minister of communications, consider vacating her seat in parliament.
Pule, who was born in Bushbuckridge and previously served as a member of the executive in the local government, was fired as minster by the president, Mr Jacob Zuma earlier this year, but remains a member of parliament.
Ms Thuli Madonsela released her office’s report on the investigation into allegations of maladministration, corruption and a potential conflict of interest against Pule last week. The allegements stem from a complaint made by the DA and was based on an article in the Sunday Times in June 2012 about procurement issues relating to the Department of Communications’ ICT Indaba held in Cape Town last year.
Madonsela found that Mr Phosane Mngqibisa, whom Pule had represented as her official companion, benefited financially from the communications department through the indaba by transferring R6 million of a R15 million sponsorship to his Khemano Productions account. He also accompanied Pule on official trips as her life partner.
She said the appropriate remedial action was for Pule to consider vacating her seat to minimise the damage caused by her bringing parliament and the executive into disrepute.
The PP found that Pule violated the executive ethics code by wilfully misleading parliament during its investigation and offering a half-hearted apology to it, by unlawfully extending spousal benefits to Mngqibisa, by causing her department to improperly benefit him at the indaba, and directing or allowing her staff to violate the law and departmental policies by inserting Mngqibisa into the indaba and lie to parliament, the Auditor General and the Public Protector’s office.
Pule committed her department to make an unsolicited donation of R10 million to the ICT Indaba, for which Carol Bouwer Productions (CBP) coordinated the hosting. Madonsela found the process was not executed in accordance with treasury regulations, making it unlawful and improper, while CBP innocently accepted the “donation” and it would therefore be unjust to require that the money be refunded.
However, every cent of it spent by Pule’s department on Mngqibisa’s overseas trips with her should be paid back to the state by January 31, Madonsela said. Mngqibisa has already paid back R89 326.
Madonsela also said Pule should also issue public apologies to Ms Carol Bouwer for placing her in an untenable position; Sunday Times, for insults and a denial of the truth; members of the department’s staff for placing them in an unethical situation; and to parliament for persistently misleading it.
Madonsela added that she was convinced that Pule chose Mngqibisa’s interests above those of her department. Parliament’s joint committee on ethics and members interests had also investigated Pule and found that she had caused improper benefits to be afforded to Mngqibisa. She was suspended from parliament for 15 days and fined a month’s salary.She publicly apologised to parliament, following a public reprimand by national assembly speaker, Mr Max Sisulu.
The Hawks have also confirmed that they are investigating charges of corruption against the former minster.
