Pule’s spin is pitiful: DA
DA Shadow Minister of Communications, Marian Shinn says that communications minister Dina Pule’s press briefing was a “pitiful attempt at spin to evoke public sympathy” ahead of hearings into her conduct by Parliament’s ethics committee.
Pule called a press briefing on Monday 22 April 2013 where she slated the damaging Sunday Times reports against her, arguing that it was part of a “sophisticated plot” to blackmail her.
According to Pule, the reason for the blackmail is the multi-billion Rand tender “and related issues” for the set-top boxes needed for South Africa’s migration from analogue to digital television.
Shinn, however, was not swayed in her opinion that Pule should step down. “My calls for Pule to be fired have been based on wider issues than the Sunday Times – although their investigations into her are damning enough,” Shinn told MyBroadband.
“She has failed in her portfolio to achieve anything of note and has been damaging to both Telkom and the migration to DTT with her meddling in the STB access control issue.”
Shinn said that she read nothing in the reports of the communications minister’s media conference that would make her change her mind about Pule needing to be removed from office.
“Judging by the media comment I’ve seen – she didn’t persuade many of those who were there,” added Shinn.
Parliament is set to investigate the ethical conduct of Pule in a hearing this week. Media reports suggest that Parliament’s ethics committee had to work through 2,000 pages of evidence against Pule.
“The committee has plenty of material to thoroughly evaluate the claims, and then there’s the Public Protector who has spent many months investigating. This report is still awaited,” said Shinn.
More on Dina Pule
Dina Pule: I’m being blackmailed
Dina Pule to be hit with criminal charges
Pule to be investigated by Parliament
DoC calls for Sunday Times apology
Pule victim of political smear campaign: spokesperson
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