Yasmin Bilal
Criticism is mounting over President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to appoint former communications minister Dina Pule as Minister of Social Development.
Anti-corruption organisation Corruption Watch and opposition parties have expressed disappointment over her return to Cabinet more than a decade after she was dismissed following findings of unethical conduct during her previous stint as a minister.
Pule was named to the portfolio yesterday as part of Ramaphosa’s Cabinet reshuffle.
Her appointment has raised fresh questions about the government’s commitment to ethical leadership, particularly as the Department of Social Development administers grants to about 28 million South Africans and manages one of the state’s largest budgets.
Corruption Watch said the department has also repeatedly been singled out by the Auditor General for irregular expenditure in recent years.
The organisation pointed to Pule’s time as communications minister between October 2011 and July 2013, when she oversaw the department during the ICT Indaba scandal.
According to Corruption Watch, Parliament’s ethics committee found that Pule concealed her relationship with businessman Phosane Mngqibisa while millions of rands in public funds and contracts were allegedly channelled to companies linked to him. The alleged benefits included overseas trips and accommodation.
Pule was removed from Cabinet in July 2013 following the revelations. Corruption Watch said a subsequent Public Protector report found that she had acted unlawfully and unethically, and had repeatedly misled Parliament and investigators during the inquiry.
Corruption Watch Executive Director Lebo Ramafoko said the appointment undermined efforts to promote accountable governance.
“It is a slap in the face of everyone advocating for just and accountable governance for the president to choose someone who had been embroiled in corruption at the last ministry she headed to be the new minister for social development.
“It seems as if this department has been identified as the dumping place for the ANC Women’s League, whose leaders have not advanced gender equity and have all had small skeletons lurking in their closets.”
Ramafoko said the Department of Social Development required a leader with an unquestionable record of integrity because of the vulnerable people it serves and the size of its budget.
“Her appointment aptly demonstrates that dealing with corruption is just words for the president.
“This country has capable women leaders; so which agenda is being fulfilled by choosing some of the worst ones to lead important national portfolios?”
Corruption Watch called on Ramaphosa to explain the rationale behind Pule’s appointment. It also urged the department to publicly commit to full transparency by publishing all supply chain and procurement decisions.
The organisation further called on Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Social Development to strengthen its oversight of the ministry and warned that it would call for Pule’s removal should any indication of impropriety emerge.
The Democratic Alliance also rejected Pule’s appointment, saying the Social Development portfolio required a minister with an impeccable record.
DA spokesperson on Social Development Nazley Sharif said Pule had previously been removed from Cabinet after the Public Protector made findings of maladministration and improper conduct.
Sharif also referred to Parliament’s reprimand of Pule, saying she had been found to have betrayed her oath of office and brought Parliament into disrepute. She added that the matter had been referred for criminal investigation.
“The DA believes that Social Development is so crucial a portfolio, with such a significant budget, that it demands a Minister of impeccable credentials – not one found to have previously betrayed her oath of office and to have brought Parliament into disrepute.”
Sharif said the President appeared to have placed ANC Women’s League interests ahead of the needs of millions of South Africans who rely on social grants.
ActionSA joined the criticism, describing Pule’s appointment as a sign that ethical failings were no obstacle to holding high office.
ActionSA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip said the appointment reflected poorly on the President’s judgement.
“The appointment of the ANC’s Dina Pule as Minister of Social Development demonstrates that the ANC is scraping the bottom of the barrel.
“Removed from Cabinet in 2013 following Parliament’s Ethics Committee finding that she had breached the Executive Ethics Code, her return sends a dangerous message: ethical failures are no barrier to high office under President Ramaphosa.”
ActionSA said the Cabinet reshuffle showed the Government of National Unity continued to prioritise political patronage over accountability and good governance.
The Presidency has not publicly responded to the criticism from Corruption Watch, the Democratic Alliance or ActionSA.
Meanwhile, Pule today met with the Department of Social Development’s Executive Committee (EXCO) in Pretoria following her swearing-in.
Led by Acting Director General Advocate Gugulethu Thimane, the meeting provided the newly appointed minister with a briefing on the department’s mandate, strategic priorities, key programmes and challenges as she begins her tenure.
The engagement also focused on the department’s priorities and efforts to advance South Africa’s social development agenda.