Marian Shinn. Image courtesy of the Democratic Alliance (DA)
A docket into the investigation on Dina Pule, the former minister of communications of South Africa, has been reported missing by Marian Shinn, shadow minister of communications for the Democratic Alliance (DA).
“The South African Police Services (SAPS) has either lost the docket on former communications minister, Dina Pule, or they are failing in their duty to investigate the allegations of corruption against the former minister,” said Shinn.
Shinn added: “In both cases they have failed to give adequate feedback on exactly what they have been doing since I was informed in June that the case has been escalated.”
Shinn said she wrote another letter to the Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Arno Lamoer, lieutenant general, yesterday. The letter has requested Lamoer and his office’s police inspectorate to conduct an investigation into the SAPS for their failure to investigate Pule.
Earlier this year, Shinn submitted an affidavit to the SAPS in Cape Town in a move to have Pule and Phosane Mngqibisa investigated for alleged criminal activity.
The affidavit also requested an investigation into Gugu Duda, the suspended chief financial officer (CFO) of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and Lulama Mokhobo, group chief executive officer (CFO) of the SABC.
Furthermore the SAPS agreed to conduct an investigation into the allegations and by June a Cape Town SAPS colonel confirmed witnesses had been contacted, which resulted in the case being escalated to the anti-corruption unit – the Hawks, in Cape Town.
“A response from the Hawks in the Western Cape revealed that they have no record of the corresponding case number and that the specific case is not being investigated by the Hawks. I approached lieutenant general Lamoer and the national head of the Hawks, lieutenant general Anwa Dramat, two weeks ago who is handling the case and to give a progress report. Both have failed to respond,” said Shinn.
Shinn added: “Uncertainty surrounding the docket raises serious concerns whether political interference in the case might be preventing progress. SAPS needs to explain where the corruption investigation docket into Dina Pule is. There is no exception when it comes to combating corruption in South Africa’s government sector.”
