Pule Guilty: DA welcomes Parliamentary Ethics Committee decision
Following the DA's request for an investigation, today the multiparty Parliamentary Ethics Committee, of which I am a member, found ex-Minister of Communications, Dina Pule guilty of causing improper benefits to be afforded to Mr Phosane Mngqibisa on the basis of his relationship with her.
The DA is pleased that the multiparty ethics committee was unanimous in its decision to impose the strictest possible penalties available to Parliament in this case. The matter has now been referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) for further investigation.
The members determined to impose the strictest penalties possible under the committee's mandate. We found:
- she wilfully misled the panel;
- caused improper benefits to be afforded to Mr Mngqibisa on the basis of his relationship with her; and
- breached the Executive Members Ethics Code.
We rejected her evidence as untrustworthy and determined that she be issued with a reprimand, fined 30 days' salary, and be suspended from Parliament for 15 days.