South Africa’s communications minister Dina Pule launched a staunch defence of her department in parliament today, despite her “difficult” relationship with her director general Rosey Sekese.
HumanIPO reported in January Sekese had been placed on special leave and relations between the pair remained strained in April when the DG returned to the department only to find herself locked out.
Addressing the communications portfolio committee today, Pule said she had been taking legal advice on how to deal with the Sekese situation.
She said: “This morning I spoke to the lawyers, and what they advised us is that before Friday they will give us the legal opinion on how should we take the matter forward.
“We’ll be waiting for them between tomorrow [Wednesday] and Friday, and we will then advise the committee on the steps we will be taking.”
The minister, who has become embroiled in a series of high profile spats with the Sunday Times newspaper over the last few months, went further to tell the committee she should be commended for being able to present a budget without the cooperation of a DG.
She added: “Actually, you must commend me for [being] able to present a budget speech without the DG’s participation, which shows I understand what I’m doing.”
The minister admitted she never sees the DG face to face and only knows she is in the office when documents, signed by Sekese, are presented to her.
