The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on President Zuma to fire Communications Minister Dina Pule following renewed reports of misallocation of funds for the personal benefit of herself and select individuals.
Citing the most recent reports of Pule’s alleged misconduct in granting Sentech – and as such AU Communications – the contracts for implementing a set-top box control system in order to benefit Phosane Mngqibisa, rumoured to be Pule’s boyfriend, and his business partner Rudy Rashama, head of AU Communications, the DA has asked Zuma not to move Pule to an ambassadorial role but to remove her entirely.
“If President Zuma is considering a soft exit for her into an ambassadorial post he must remember that within one year Minister Pule has been accused twice of bulldozing through schemes that were designed to enrich her boyfriend, indicating that she has a serious ethical deficit,” the DA argues.
The DA also makes note of the controversy surrounding the ICT Indaba, held in June last year, during which Mngqibisa allegedly benefitted to the tune of at least ZAR6 million (US$660,250). Pule is currently the subject of a probe by a parliamentary committee in connection with her alleged involvement in the misappropriation of Indaba funds.
Furthermore, the DA claims Pule is responsible for the ongoing turmoil surrounding telecommunications provider Telkom, as well as the failure to make progress in a number of vital ICT-based nationwide projects.
“The Minister’s 16 months in office have been disastrous for advancing the interests and benefits of the ICT sector,” the DA summarises.
“The Department [of Communications] failed to progress its major projects – the timely migration from analogue to digital television, the allocation of sought after high-speed spectrum and a coherent broadband policy.
“South Africa can no longer afford a Minister who is constantly side-tracked by her own personal and vested interests. It’s time for Minister Pule to go,” the party concludes.
