DA needs Presidency to conduct life-style audit on new Social Development Minister

The Democratic Alliance (DA) wants the Presidency to conduct an immediate lifestyle audit on the new Minister of Social Development, Dina Pule.

Pule was appointed to the Cabinet last week, more than a decade after she was dismissed for unethical conduct related to her tenure as Communications Minister.

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While the African National Congress (ANC) said Pule can’t be condemned for her misdemeanours of the past forever, the DA said she can’t be trusted, given her track record of unethical conduct.

Pule is replacing another former beleaguered leader of the ANC Women’s League, Sisisi Tolashe, who was fired by President Cyril Ramaphosa in May following maladministration in her department and allegations of redirecting a donation of cars to the league to her children.

The DA on Monday delivered a letter to the Presidency demanding a baseline assessment of Pule’s finances and assets.

The party’s Nazley Sharif said Pule is unfit to lead.

“The Department of Social Development serves the country’s most vulnerable people, and taxpayers deserve confidence that public resources will be protected.”

Pule was found to have misconducted herself by the Public Protector and Parliament during her last stint as a Cabinet minister in 2013, when she was found to have tailored contracts to benefit her romantic partner.

Last week, ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula said Pule had voluntarily removed herself from public life following the investigations, adding that the party believes she has repented.