South African communications minister Dina Pule. CC image courtesy of GovernmentZA on Flickr.
South Africa’s Press Ombudsman has thrown out communications minister Dina Pule’s complaints against the Sunday Times newspaper, saying there was “no trace of evidence” the paper was colluding with opposition party the Democratic Alliance (DA).
HumanIPO reported earlier this month the Press Ombudsman had agreed to take up Pule’s complaints after the Press Council of South Africa (PCSA) had previously said it had no grounds to investigate.
Pule had argued the newspaper’s editor Phylicia Oppelt had acted unethically in handing over information to the DA, which led to parliament’s ethics committee investigating the minister.
But Press Ombudsman Johan Retief said in a statement: “I could find no trace of evidence that the newspaper has lost its independence in favour of the DA or that it could justifiably be accused of unethical behaviour in this matter.”
The entire case has now been thrown out.
Pule had also argued the paper’s story last month which said Ronny Bokwa had been her lawyer and had apologised to the paper on her behalf had been false.
Regarding the complaint, Retief added: “I also have no reason to believe that Bokwa misrepresented his position, as a motive for such a possible deception escapes me. This means that I believe that the Sunday Times was justified in reporting Bokwa’s views as representing that of the department of communications.”
Pule’s final complaint was that the story published on April 21 alleging her department had spent ZAR2.6 million (US$254,000) on a recruitment deal, which included the appointment of friends of her alleged boyfriend Phosane Mngqibisa, suggested she had contravened or circumvented the law.
Retief said: “Based on all of the above, I can only conclude that the newspaper’s reportage on this point was fair and reasonable.”
