Pule a pawn in 'mischievous' plot

Dina Pule is determined to carry out her mandate as communications minister, "until the president tells me otherwise".

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The presidency has dismissed speculation that communications minister Dina Pule is set to be axed as a "carefully orchestrated rumour", suggesting there is an attempt to undermine the state before Parliament opens with the annual state of the nation address.

Several Sunday papers carried a story suggesting talk among high-level government circles was that Pule was set to be ousted. The news comes days before president Jacob Zuma is set to address the country on Thursday in the annual state of the nation address, which details SA's work programme for the year.

Pule this morning also denied the reports, stressing she is committed to continuing to carry out her mandate as minister of communications.

"President Jacob Zuma has given me a task to ensure that all South Africans have access to world-class ICT infrastructure, policies, broadcasting signal and post offices," Pule told ITWeb in response to questions. She adds that her department is also making progress with connecting schools and opening post offices in rural areas.

"This is a task I take very seriously and I'll continue to execute it until the president tells me otherwise."

Communications, a key portfolio that manages several state-owned entities, including signals provider Sentech, the South African Broadcasting Corporation and government's almost 40% stake in fixed-line incumbent Telkom, has had seven ministers since democracy in 1994.

However, under Zuma, ministers have been rapidly recycled and the pattern of short stints of ministers at the helm of the department has previously been blamed for targets being missed.

Pule has been in the post for just over a year, after taking over from Roy Padayachie, in October 2011. Padayachie served as communications minister from November 2010 until October the following year, when he was moved to the Department of Public Service and Administration, a post he held until his death.

In a statement, the Presidency says it has "noted the carefully orchestrated rumour published by most Sunday newspapers" that Zuma will relieve Pule of her duties and reshuffle his Cabinet.

"The rumour and speculation are mischievous and will not distract government from the main activity this coming week, the state of the nation address by the president."

The Sunday Times suggests it will be easy for Zuma to "fire" Pule as she no longer has a seat on the ruling party's national executive committee (NEC).

Democratic Alliance shadow communications minister Marian Shinn says there have been rumours of Pule's redeployment since before Mangaung and, when she was not re-elected, this added to the speculation that she is not favoured.

Presidency spokesman Mac Maharaj explains that the ANC's NEC is the result of a democratic process and there are other Cabinet ministers who are not on the committee. He denies that a Cabinet shuffle is on the cards.

Shinn says, while a shuffle has also been rumoured, this will not happen before the address. She adds that she was surprised that Pule was sent to the recent World Economic Forum, in Davos, due to the costs involved, but this could indicate that a "graceful" exit could be on the cards, although this is only "chatter" in the corridors.

Pule is "hardly a shining example of a successful minister", says Shinn.

Although the department made some progress in meeting major targets last year, several key projects stalled completely. In addition, changes to key legislation were met with uproar as proposed amendments will strip the regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of SA, of some of its power.

Last year, the department failed to turn on digital television, arguing that a court bid by etv had held up the process, and also did not allocate spectrum, a process that has been on the cards since about 2006.

Pule made progress last year in stabilising the department, entities that report to it, and filling vacancies. However, since then director-general, Rosey Sekese, was placed on special leave and deputy DG Gift Buthelezi appointed as acting DG until 15 February.

The move follows a finding by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications that Sekese lied to it when she provided misleading evidence about signing a performance agreement with the DOC. Sekese was appointed by Padayachie in May 2011, after having previously worked in the department as deputy DG of ICT infrastructure development, from 2006 to 2011.

Should Pule be replaced, her successor would be the fourth communications minister in four years. She took over from Padayachie in October 2011 after he was moved to the Department of Public Service and Administration. Padayachie became communications minister in November 2010, taking over from Siphiwe Nyanda, who was removed from the post after a Cabinet shuffle.

The Sunday Independent stated Pule would be "booted from Cabinet soon" in a bid to stabilise the department, after an "embarrassing scandal in which she is accused of routing large sums of money to her alleged lover".

This alludes to last year's ICT Indaba and subsequent allegations against Pule related to the misuse of sponsors' money. Allegations also surfaced in the Sunday Times of a conflict of interest, stemming from an alleged romantic link between Pule and events company owner Phosane Mngqibisa. To date, several probes into the matter had not found any wrongdoing on Pule's part. The only outstanding investigation into the indaba is currently being completed by the Public Protector.

The Sunday Independent says "it is understood" Pule recently met with Zuma and asked to be redeployed as an ambassador when it "became clear she was about to be fired". The paper hints that Lindiwe Zulu, Zuma's adviser on International relations, could take over from Pule.

Zulu has been elected by the ANC's national executive committee to head up its communications sub-committee, while Pule was not voted into the NEC during the recent conference in Mangaung.

Other potential candidates include deputy communications minister Stella Ndabeni, deputy minister in the Presidency Obed Bapela (who was deputy minister to late Padayachie when he served as communications minister), as well as public service and administration minister, Lindiwe Sisulu.

Source: Wikipedia