According to the Sunday Times' lead article this morning, a top-level probe by the South African Police Service is underway into claims that former communications minister Dina Pule's partner, Phosane Mngqibisa, hired a hit man.
Pule was this week found guilty of lying to Parliament and had the highest sanctions levelled at her after the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests ruled she allowed her "companion" Phosane Mngqibisa to gain financially through their relationship and that Pule had failed to disclose the liaison.
The paper claims that the man was hired to murder chairman Ben Turok as well as registrar of members' interests, Fazela Mohamed.
In the committee's report, it states that management had received information of a threat to harm the chairman and the registrar and to disrupt its proceedings. "These threats were reported to the authorities and appropriate measures were taken to safeguard the work of the panel and its personnel."
The Sunday Times, citing the unnamed man behind the attempt, says the attempt was disclosed to Parliament's head of security, Zelda Holtzman and Mohamed after he decided he no longer wanted to carry out his instructions.
The paper quotes the would-be assassin as saying: "The hit to kill Ben Turok was issued to me as a specialist consultant. I was to recruit a hit man for the job. All plans were disturbed by the Cabinet reshuffle that was made by the President..."
The Sunday Times says the man would be paid R400 000 for the job and was also asked to falsify documents for Mngqibisa that would counter the claims against him.
Pule, who the paper says could not be reached for comment, received sanctions including a fine equivalent to 30 days' salary, and a suspension of privileges for 15 days, as well as exclusion from any Parliamentary debates and committees for this period.
Mngqibisa is quoted as saying the man's allegations were "nonsense". The police's investigation is ongoing, says the paper.
Share