Parliament’s select ethics committee has recommended that former Minister of Communications Dina Pule be fined the equivalent of a month’s salary, and will have to apologise publically in the National Assembly.

Presenting its findings on Wednesday on the investigation into the alleged breaches of conduct by Pule, in a case which revolved around her intimate relationship with Phosane Mngqibisa, the committee found that the former minister broke several rules in Parliament’s Code of Conduct.

The committee also ruled that Pule have her salary or allowances reduced for a period not exceeding 15 days and that she forfeit the right to attend parliamentary debates or committees for a period also not exceeding 15 days.

Pule will also have to submit full details in respect of the non-disclosure and correct the incomplete declaration for the respective years.

The committee, jointly chaired by Ben Turok and made up of a multi-party panel, found that Pule breached several sections of Parliament’s Code of Conduct, including:

• Paragraph 9 (g) of the code by not disclosing the financial interests of her permanent companion and instead providing Parliament’s registrar with incorrect and misleading details.
• Paragraph 13 of the code by not disclosing to Telkom that her permanent companion had a financial interest in the ICT Indaba which Telkom was sponsoring.
• Paragraph 16 (b) of the code by providing the registrar with incorrect or misleading details by denying that Mngqibisa was her permanent companion.

The committee, which called seven witnesses over the five days that the hearings were held, found that the fact that Pule and Mngqibisa shared hotel accommodation, travelled together on numerous international trips, shared hired cars during officials trips and that she nominated him as her spouse or companion, was proof that he was her intimate companion.

However, the committee could not find sufficient evidence to prove the allegation that Pule had received shoes as a gift from Mngqibisa.

The committee also noted that the concealment of the relationship by Pule enabled Mngqibisa to gain improper financial benefit.

Most notably, he benefitted improperly by receiving R6-million for his company through the ICT Indaba, which the Department of Communications hosted and enjoyed the benefit of her department paying for six overseas trips and accommodation, which further amounted to several thousand rands.

Turok said the influence that Mngqibisa was able to exercise over Pule went beyond just the ICT Indaba and stretches over four years, during the time when she served as Deputy Minister in the Communication Department and then in The Presidency.

“The indications are that Mr Mngqibisa has located himself in a favourable position to benefit from future activity,” he said.

However, Turok said he didn’t want to go into more detail because the committee didn’t have clear evidence.

“But it’s fair to say that the influence that he has accumulated would extend beyond the immediate (ICT) Indaba that we were looking into,” he pointed out.

The committee has also asked that Parliament refer to the police and the National Prosecuting Authority those officials from the Department of Communication that committed perjury by wilfully furnishing the committee with misleading information.

The officials have been identified in the report, which will be sent to President Jacob Zuma and the Public Sector Commission for any further action.

Turok said Pule and her advocate were present during the entire length of the hearings.
Pule, who has already received a copy of the report, will remain a Member of Parliament, Turok said, adding that he expected her to make an apology before the National Assembly.

Turok said the committee had not informed the President of any of its findings, before the President dismissed Pule from Cabinet.

In its report, the committee also recommended that the Presidency consider measures to address the relationship between the Department of Communications and other entities around the appropriate measures when it comes to raising funds for various activities.