Allegations of nepotism against minister Dina Pule are nothing more than a mud-slinging exercise, says the Department of Communications (DOC).
Media reports last week said a dossier of allegations against Pule compiled by staff within the department, pointed to, among others, unethical appointments. The reports added that the minister did not disguise the fact that there is internal strife in the department, saying there is a “vendetta” and a “witch-hunt” against her.
Key allegations are around appointments made at the South African Broadcasting Corporation, the SA Post Office, within the department and Pule's alleged romantic link to a subcontractor who benefited from the inaugural ICT Indaba.
Slander campaign
Responding to the allegations in the dossier, the department says the press is being used as a conduit for a political vendetta. “The strategy seems to be one of continuously throwing mud in the hope that something sticks eventually.”
It adds that in the context of “this campaign of slander against her”, in the name of public interest, the action taken by Pule to ask the auditor-general (AG) to investigate allegations surrounding the ICT Indaba, confirms her commitment to using the appropriate procedures, processes and structures to govern in the public interest.
Pule has also requested the AG to help the department and its portfolio organisations to improve their adherence to good corporate practices in a quest to ensure they receive clean audits, on an ongoing basis, from 2014.
“The fact that some of these questions dwell on events that happened at least three years ago substantiates our view that this is a thinly veiled campaign of slander. These matters were resolved by the department years ago and as such are now closed.”
Proper process
The auditor-general's investigation into the inaugural ICT Indaba has been completed and has found no improper conduct.
The DOC hosted the event in June and, due to the alleged misappropriation of funds for the event, the AG conducted an investigation into the R10 million committed to the indaba by the department.
DOC spokesman Siya Qoza says the investigation is done and the report will be released to the public later this month but must first be taken to Parliament. It will be released along with the department's annual report.
“The report found that the minister and all the officials of the DOC followed proper processes and procedures in engaging the service provider and in executing the indaba.”
'Integrity deficit'
The Democratic Alliance (DA) previously said the AG's investigation is not sufficient as it did not cover Pule's alleged conflict of interest regarding her romantic link to Phosane Mngqibisa, a sub-contractor for the indaba who reportedly withdrew millions in sponsorship fees for the event.
“The minister is a public figure and therefore recognises the interest of the media in her private life, but she is also determined to protect the privacy of her family and friends who are not public figures. Unless there are valid and substantive indications of impropriety, she will therefore not entertain an invasion of her private life,” says the DOC.
DA shadow communications minister Marian Shinn on Friday again called for the public protector to investigate the romantic link.
The official opposition will also ask the public protector's office to follow up on allegations within the dossier. “The minister seems to suffer from an integrity deficit.”
Disclaimer: ITWeb was one of several media partners for the ICT Indaba.
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