Communications minister Dina Pule has welcomed the public protector's decision to investigate allegations of her conflict of interest in the hosting of the ICT Indaba.
However, Pule says she has not yet received notification from public protector Thuli Madonsela that she will carry out the investigation.
“The minister has instructed her staff to cooperate fully with the public protector, as they have done when they were dealing with the office of the auditor-general,” says the Department of Communications (DOC).
It adds that Pule is committed to clean governance. “She requested the office of the auditor-general to help the department and its companies improve their adherence to corporate governance.
“The minister is convinced there is no wrongdoing on her part as the report of the auditor-general has found.”
Investigation limitation
Madonsela last week said she will investigate the potential mismanagement of ICT Indaba funds, and Pule's alleged conflict of interest.
Democratic Alliance shadow communications minister Marian Shinn has been calling for Madonsela to supplement the auditor-general's inquiry into the matter, as she claims the initial probe was insufficient.
Madonsela met with the AG's office on Friday and, based on the briefing she received, which included the scope and limitations of the audit process, said she has decided to proceed with the investigation.
Sponsored shoes?
The DOC hosted the inaugural indaba at the beginning of June. Media reports that month said millions in sponsorship fees were drawn from the account of the indaba's event organiser by a man alleged to be romantically linked to Pule, after she lobbied telecoms companies to sponsor millions for the event.
Allegedly, millions paid in sponsorships by Telkom, MTN and Vodacom were withdrawn within days by Phosane Mngqibisa, whose company, Khemano, was subcontracted for the indaba by Carol Bouwer Productions (CBP).
Media reports also say Khemano only got the contract due to Mngqibisa's personal links to Pule, and CBP was forced to make him a joint signatory on its account.
Reports also emerged this month saying Mngqibisa used sponsorship money to buy designer shoes for Pule.
The AG conducted an investigation into the R10 million committed to the indaba by the department and found no improper conduct. Shinn said the AG's investigation was insufficient as it did not cover Pule's alleged conflict of interest regarding her romantic link to a sub-contractor for the indaba.
Disclaimer: ITWeb was one of several media partners for the event.
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