Marian Shinn, shadow minister of communications for the Democratic Alliance (DA), has slammed Dina Pule, South Africa’s communications minister, for not having answered a “single parliamentary question this year”.
“Minister Pule has repeatedly demonstrated her ineptitude as a cabinet minister and her clear aversion of parliamentary oversight is further reason for president Zuma to fire her,” said Shinn.
In line with Shinn’s complaint, the DA is planning to write to Max Sisulu, the speaker of the National Assembly, and Kgalema Motlanthe, leader of government business, requesting they intervene to ensure Pule fulfills her key responsibilities.
Shinn said out of the 18 questions posted by the DA and 11 by other opposition parties, not a single one had been answered.
Shinn listed important questions she feels Pule needs to answer.
The questions pertain to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), a forensic investigation into the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA), operation licenses issued by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), and others.
“It is clear that Minister Pule is trying to hide information from Parliament. This is unacceptable and an affront to parliament’s constitutionally enshrined mandate to hold the executive to account,” said Shinn.
“This is the latest blunder by a Minister who is clearly out of her depths. South Africa deserves a capable communications minister. We re-iterate our call for Dina Pule to go.”
