Former Minister of Communications Dina Pule has been found guilty of wilfully misleading MPs by Parliament’s Ethics Committee. Briefing media yesterday, the committee said she will be reprimanded by speaker Max Sisulu.
In addition, Pule will be suspended from Parliament, where she is serving as an ordinary backbencher since being removed from her ministerial post, for 15 days. The committee has also recommended that Pule’s salary be suspended for a month.
Other officials who may have misled Parliament in the process of the inquiries will also be reported to the Office of the President as well as to the Public Service Commission.
In addition, the whole matter will now be referred to the both the police and the National Prosecuting Authority.
The initial investigation revolved around allegations – not found to be true – that Pule’s partner benefited substantially from the Department-sponsored ICT Indaba, and that he accompanied the Minister on sponsored trips.