The Communication Workers' Union (CWU) has come up for SA's beleaguered communications minister Dina Pule, following a series of newspaper reports painting her in a bad light.
This follows a year-long back and forth between the Sunday Times newspaper and the Department of Communications (DOC) over allegations of corruption, mismanagement and cronyism on Pule's part.
The over 18 000-strong union's president, Cecil Mokgantsho, yesterday likened the weekly broadsheet to a tabloid, saying the CWU is "appalled" by the Sunday Times' editor and its journalists for their sensationalist reporting on Pule.
Mokgantsho urged the local weekly to desist from allowing politicians and opposition parties to use it to report "twisted" news about public figures.
"CWU [finds it] scandalous to see how newspaper editors could connive with politicians, business associates and opposition parties to leak information about Comrade Dina Pule."
Ongoing investigation
Pule recently lodged a formal complaint with the Press Ombudsman to investigate what she says are defamatory articles about her. At the time, the DOC said the Sunday Times continues to publish false allegations despite the ongoing processes by Parliament's Ethics Committee and the Public Protector.
Last month, Pule appeared before the Parliamentary Ethics Committee to answer questions as to her relationship with businessman Phosane Mngqibisa, allegedly a romantic one - and allegedly one that has seen Mngqibisa benefit financially at taxpayers' expense.
At the same time, the Public Protector is conducting an investigation of its own to establish whether the DOC's hosting of last year's inaugural ICT Indaba was all above board.
Mokgantsho says the public, journalists and editors need to let ongoing investigations be. "We know the findings against comrade Pule will be in the public domain, therefore, we urge the Sunday Times editor and its journalists to be patient."
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