A series of articles by the Sunday Times formed part of a smear and blackmail campaign, Communications Minister Dina Pule claimed on Monday.<\/p>\n
“The campaign was a highly sophisticated plot to blackmail me,” she told reporters in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n
“The Sunday Times thought it could coerce me into a corner.”<\/p>\n
Pule went into the details of several stories, saying they sought to project her as a corrupt minister, without providing evidence.<\/p>\n
She said the blackmail related to tender processes and “their” intentions were for “decisions (to be made) in their favour”.<\/p>\n
Pule said the matter had been taken up with the Press Ombudsman.<\/p>\n
She said one journalist’s relative was so desperate to get a meeting with her he even proposed a love affair.<\/p>\n
Comment from Sunday Times editor Phylicia Oppelt could not be immediately obtained. Her personal assistant said Sapa should send an e-mail as Oppelt was the only one allowed to comment.<\/p>\n
By the time of publishing, Oppelt had not responded to the e-mail.<\/p>\n
Dina Pule: I\u2019m being blackmailed<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Dina Pule to be hit with criminal charges<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Pule to be investigated by Parliament<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n