Dina Pule, South Africa’s communications minister, has said the negative reports by the Sunday Times over the past few months are a smear campaign against her.
Pule believes the paper’s intention is to force her into making favourable decisions to benefit the interests of particular organisations and people.
“After careful consideration I have decided to reveal the reasons behind this smear campaign against me. The Sunday Times handlers thought that they can coerce me in a corner and make accusations against me,” Jacaranda News quoted Pule as saying at a press briefing today.
Pule added the Sunday Times hoped President Jacob Zuma would fire her, but said the “smear campaign” has failed to achieve its objectives.
“By the way, we should know that the mud thrower’s hands are not clean,” she said.
The Sunday Times has accused Pule of corruption, self-enrichment, mismanagement and cronyism.
Pule took note of the allegations against her saying: “The Sunday Times has sought to project me as a corrupt minister… who was bribed with shoes… [and] I gave tenders to my boyfriend. In the latest article the Sunday Times claim to have new documents that I have bypassed treasury regulations.”
Due to all the reports against Pule, parliament will investigate her conduct in a hearing set for next week. Parliament’s ethics committee reportedly worked through 2,000 documents containing evidence against Pule.
“I will appear before the ethics committee… I will avail myself to bring finality to these processes,” said Pule, who believes she will be vindicated by the result of the hearing.
Furthermore, HumanIPO reported earlier this month the Democratic Alliance (DA) had laid a criminal charge against Pule to get the police to investigate her.
Pule has denied the allegations against her and said the Sunday Times “crossed the line” because the media company has not provided any evidence to support the contrary.
“During the course of this 10 month campaign against me I have received support from friends and family and comrades… I am not fighting for my political life… I am fighting for my integrity,” concluded Pule.
