NELSPRUIT – Ms Dina Pule has announced that she will decline the ANC’s nomination to send her back to parliament after the elections.
Former MEC for sport and recreation in Mpumalanga and the former minister of communications, she was number 70 on the party’s list for the national assembly. Pule was fired as minister by the president, Mr Jacob Zuma last year, but retained her seat as MP.
This followed an investigation into Pule’s conduct regarding the ICT Indaba in Cape Town in 2012 by parliament’s ethics committee and the Public Protector (PP), Ms Thuli Madonsela. Last year, Madonsela found Pule had brought parliament and the executive into disrepute by improperly allowing her romantic partner to benefit from her position, and recommended that she resign.
She has also found against Pule in her investigation into the SABC.
Pule said on Thursday that she had decided against returning to parliament. “I have given great thought to what I should do with the rest of my life, and while I will remain a loyal and committed member of the ANC, it is in my best interest and that of my children and family that I withdraw from the ANC list and be allowed to live my life in peace.”
The Hawks have also confirmed that they are investigating charges of corruption against the former minister.
