Public Protector to probe Pule

Protector agrees to a Democratic Alliance request to institute a probe into a possible conflict of interest involving the minister of communications.

Added by Duncan McLeod on 10 September 2012.
Saved under News, Top
Tags: , , , ,

Communications minister Dina Pule

The Public Protector will investigate the possible conflict of interest involving communications minister Dina Pule and the recent ICT Indaba held in Cape Town, Democratic Alliance MP Marian Shinn said on Monday.

Shinn said this would “supplement the enquiry we instigated via parliament’s ethics and members’ interest committee for a probe into the ethical issues of Pule’s conduct in the outsourcing of the organisation of the event held in Cape Town in June to a company through which her romantic partner, Phosane Mngqibisa, has a financial interest.”

Mngqibisa has been accused of withdrawing funds earmarked for the indaba and of using R100 000 of the money to pay for a trip to Barcelona, where he allegedly purchased a pair of French designer shoes for Pule, which she wore to the Cape Town event. Vodacom, MTN and Telkom together donated millions of rand to help the department of communications stage the indaba.

“The fallout of how R25,7m was raised from sponsors for the event and was seemingly withdrawn from the event project manager Carol Bouwer’s business bank account by Mngqibisa has been the focus of media attention since mid-June,” Shinn said in a statement about the Public Protector’s decision to probe the matter.

“The Public Protector’s investigation will hopefully lift the lid on the extent of Pule’s knowledge and influence over the organisation of the ICT Indaba, the appointment of Mngqibisa as an associate to Bouwer for the event, and any financial gain he may have made from event sponsors. We need to know whether the minister abused her position of authority over companies in the ICT industry to enrich a close personal friend.”

Late on Monday evening, Pule reacted to news of the pending probe, saying she welcomed the Public Protector’s decision to investigate possible conflict of interest involving her in relation to the hosting of the ICT Indaba.

She said she had instructed her staff to “cooperate fully” with the Public Protector, as they had done when they were dealing with the office of the auditor-general.

Pule said she was convinced there was “no wrongdoing on her part as the report of the auditor-general had found”.  — (c) 2012 NewsCentral Media

See also: Pule, boyfriend accused of misusing funds and AG clears Pule, but questions remain

Share this article

  • Davebee

    The Public Protector is investigating this minister, then surely Pule should be suspended with immediate effect?
    You cannot have a ‘known suspect’ at large while the cops are doing their job investigating, it’s madness!

  • Bulldog007

    How about the problems encountered through the City of Johannesburg accounts shambles next? Incompetent cadres are put into positions for which they are often clueless!

  • Bulldog007

    Zuma needs all the friends he can muster to avoid being kicked out at Mangaung. Think of minister Angie Motshega! She should have been fired long ago. But the country is on autopilot now and we will have to wait until the next leader arrives after Mangaung

Why TechCentral?

We know that as a prospective advertiser, you are spoilt for choice. Our job is to demonstrate why TechCentral delivers the best return for your advertising spend.

TechCentral is South Africa’s online technology news leader. We don’t say that lightly. We believe we produce the country’s best and most insightful online tech news aimed at industry professionals and those interested in the fast-changing world of technology.

We provide news, reviews and comment, without fear or favour, that is of direct relevance to our fast-expanding audience. Proportionately, we provide the largest local audience of all technology-focused online publishers.

We do not constantly regurgitate press releases to draw in search engine traffic — we believe websites that do so are doing their readers and advertisers a disservice. Nor do we sell “editorial features”, offer advertising “press offices” or rely on online bulletin-board forums of questionable value to advertisers to bolster our traffic.

TechCentral, which is edited and written by award-winning South African journalists, cares about delivering top-quality content to draw in the business and consumer readers that are of most interest to technology advertisers.

We’d like the opportunity to demonstrate the value of directing a portion of your advertising budget to TechCentral, whether your company is in the technology field or not. Numerous opportunities exist for companies interested in reaching our audience of key decision-makers in South Africa’s dynamic information and communications technology sector. We offer packages that will deliver among the best returns on investment available in the online technology news space.

For more information about advertising opportunities, and how your organisation can benefit by publicising itself on TechCentral, please call us on 011-792-0449 during office hours. Or send us an e-mail and ask for our latest rate card and brochure.