NELSPRUIT – Ms Dina Pule, former communications minister, started serving her 15-day suspension from Parliament on Wednesday.
Pule, who hails from Bushbuckridge and previously served as provincial MEC for culture, sport and recreation, apologised to parliament on Tuesday, following a public reprimand by National Assembly Speaker, Mr Max Sisulu. These measures were recommended by parliament’s joint Committee on Ethics and Members Interests, which had investigated Pule. On August 7 they found she had caused improper benefits to be afforded to Mr Phosane Mngqibisa, her romantic partner, through his association with her.
He allegedly benefited financially from the communications department and admitted to being paid R6 million for an ICT Indaba in Cape Town last year. He also allegedly accompanied Pule on official trips as her life partner while she had denied being in a relationship with him.
The committee found Pule had wilfully misled the committee and breached the executive members ethics code. They also fined her a month’s salary.
Sisulu delivered his reprimand on Tuesday. “Your breach of the code of conduct, Ms Pule, has gravely undermined the people’s trust and brought this house and its member into disrepute,” he said. “You wilfully misled the ethics committee by lying under oath in your continued attempt to conceal your relationship.”
Afterward, Pule had the opportunity to address the house. “I want to say in this house, that I gave the best I could do to doing my job, and if in the course of doing my job I made a mistake, I am sorry, I apologise,” she said.
The Hawks recently confirmed that they were investigating charges of corruption against the former minster.
