Pule’s future in question: report
As the Parliamentary Ethics Committee (PEC) prepares to present its findings of alleged misconduct by former communications minister, Dina Pule, questions have been raised regarding her future as a member of parliament.
This is according to eNCA, who said that the PEC is set to report its findings following an investigation into Pule, which concluded earlier in August.
The committee found Pule guilty of abusing her power, and for wilfully misleading the panel with regards to the relationship she had with businessman Phosane Mngqibisa, which was found to be her de fact permanent spouse.
Pule was found guilty of “causing improper benefits to be afforded to Mr Phosane Mngqibisa on the basis of his relationship with her”.
In July, during a presidential cabinet reshuffle, Jacob Zuma fired Pule from her role as communications minister. However, Pule remained in government as a member of parliament.
Pule was also subsequently appointed to the Portfolio Committee of Transport.
According to the eNCA, the ANC said it will not comment on whether or not it will keep Pule as an MP until the National Assembly adopts the PEC’s report.
Following the PEC’s findings, and futher media reports that implicated Pule’s partner, Mngqibisa in an alleged plot to assassinate members of the committee, the Democratic Alliance called for Pule’s immediate suspension.
“These are serious allegations which must be investigated. Dina Pule should be suspended from Parliament, and the Portfolio Committee of Transport, until such an investigation is finalised,” the DA chief whip Watty Watson said in a statement.
According to eNCA, the ethics committee also found that two senior department officials also lied during the hearings, and one is believed to be directly involved in the ICT indaba scandal.
MTN’s chief corporate services officer has also been suspended, allegedly over his role in the diversion of sponsorship funds for the ICT indaba, Business Day reported on Monday (19 August).
MTN confirmed the suspension but gave no details, saying it was “not in a position to divulge the nature of these internal matters”.
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