Sacked Pule sent off to transport committee

Dina Pule (Image: GCIS)

Pule was sacked as a minister in July when President Jacob Zuma reshuffled his Cabinet.

She faced a raft of allegations including corruption and nepotism which subsequently led to Parliament's ethics committee probing her conduct. The probe mainly focussed on allegations that Pule's romantic partner benefited from funds provided by corporate sponsors for the ICT indaba in 2012.

The panel reportedly received more than 2‚000 pages of evidence relating to the investigation. It is understood that the probe‚ which started in May‚ has been completed. The joint committee on ethics and members' interests was to meet on Wednesday (7 August) to brief the media on the inquiry into the allegations against Pule.

In July the Hawks confirmed that they were investigating corruption charges against Pule. The charges were laid by the Democratic Alliance (DA).

Appliatons for SABC board

Meanwhile Parliament's communications portfolio committee has set up a multiparty task team to start sifting through the applications from more than 100 nominees for positions on the board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

The task team is made of MPs from the African National Congress‚ the DA‚ the Congress of the People and the Inkatha Freedom Party. The task team will have to whittle down the applicatons to no more than 30 by next Thursday (15 August) before the committee starts interviewing candidates.

Earlier this year‚ Parliament dissolved the SABC board after in-fighting led to all but one of the members stepping down. An interim board was appointed and its tenure ends in September.

Instability has beset the SABC for several years and it has had four boards since 2008.

DA MP and spokeswoman on communications Marian Shinn said on Wednesday (7 August) that the party was happy with the process so far although the deadlines were tight.

SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition co-ordinator Sekoetlane Phamodi said that despite the history of SABC boards in the past‚ it was still possible for future SABC boards to work.

"Parliament needs to select high-flying‚ skilled and accountable leaders with integrity and a deep sense of public service. If personal and political relationships take precedence over the work the board will be doomed from the start‚" Phamodi said.

Source: Business Day via I-Net Bridge