The City Press newspaper has named soccer boss Jomo Sono as the person behind communications minister Dina Pule\u2019s alleged blackmail and smear campaigns.<\/p>\n
Pule called a press briefing on Monday 22 April 2013 where she slated the damaging Sunday Times reports against her, saying that it was part of a \u201csophisticated plot\u201d to blackmail her.<\/p>\n
According to Pule the multi-billion Rand tender \u201cand related issues\u201d for the set-top boxes needed for South Africa\u2019s migration from analogue to digital television are behind the Sunday Times reports.<\/p>\n
According to Pule, the intention was to force her to make decisions that favour the interests of certain powerful people and organisations.<\/p>\n
Pule did not name the businessman involved, but the City Press has now revealed that Sono is the man she was referring to.<\/p>\n
According to the report Sono\u2019s company Jomo Sono Investments is one of the companies bidding for the lucrative digital TV set top box tender.<\/p>\n
The newspaper said that Sono and former ICASA councillor Robert Nkuna helped to set up a meeting between Sunday Times journalist Mzilikazi Wa Africa (who formed part of the journalism team which reported on Pule) and minister Pule in June 2012.<\/p>\n
The City Press said that all the people they interviewed confirmed Sono\u2019s role in the meeting which was held at the Southern Sun hotel in Sandton.<\/p>\n
Phosane Mngqibisa \u2013 who was named in many of the reports as playing a pivotal role in matters related to Pule \u2013 was allegedly also involved in the discussions between the parties before the June meeting.<\/p>\n
Parliament\u2019s ethics committee is currently investigating the ethical conduct of Pule.<\/p>\n
Public protector Thuli Madonsela is investigating Pule\u2019s role in the ICT Indaba scandal, with a report on the matter expected soon.<\/p>\n
The DA also wants the police to investigate Pule after it laid criminal charges against the Minister of Communications at the Cape Town Central police station on 10 April 2013.<\/p>\n
Pule denied all the allegations, and also rejected claims that she is romantically linked to Phosane Mngqibisa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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