Disgraced former communications minister, Dina Pule has made a come back in government after her appointment to help revive the defunct Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (Mega).
Pule has been appointed deputy chairperson of Mega, an entity tasked with improving the province's economic fortunes and a catalyst for service delivery in municipalities especially on water provision.
Her appointment was announced by provincial government on Tuesday along with nine other nonexecutive board members to serve for four years.
The provincial government said it envisaged that the members will bolster Mega’s efforts of advancing the provincial economy, plummeted in the midst of the global recession and exacerbated by the outbreak of Covid-19. It said the knowledge and experience of those appointed "inspire hope".
Pule was fired from her ministerial post in 2013 after a damning public protector’s report found that she repeatedly lied and cheated to ensure that her boyfriend, Phosane Mngqibisa, benefited from state coffers.
She will serve as deputy to Thabo Motau, a former ANCYL member, after working in the ANC provincial office as an administrator since she was fired as minister. She was previously nominated for the National Assembly in 2014 but she declined.
However Pule’s appointment has already set tongues wagging with DA in Mpumalanga rejecting her appointment citing the fact that she lied in parliament and was found guilty.
“The DA rejects the appointment of Pule, the former disgraced communications minister, was found guilty in 2013 by the Parliament’s Ethics Committee to have caused improper benefits to be afforded to Mr Phosane Mngqibisa based on his relationship with the then minister,” said DA MPL Bosman Grobler.
Grobler also lambasted the appointed of former economic development MEC Jabulani Mahlangu in the board and said the party would challenge the appointments.
"The DA will write to the premier, asking her what criteria was used for the appointment of the new board members and why the premier felt that bringing in such controversial members would be good for an already struggling entity like Mega,” said Grobler.
Acting head of communications in the provincial government, George Mthethwa said the appointment of the board was carefully done with experience the candidates have.
“What has been said by Pule are allegations she may have carried, but remember Mega is an economic pillar of the province and needs people with vast experience looking at the country’s situation and the province in terms of economic stability. Pule comes with experience which you cannot find around. As far as the appointments are concerned the candidates passed all the criteria and interviewing processes,” said Mthethwa.
Pule had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publishing.
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