The report, which was tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, found that Pule had “wilfully misled” Parliament’s ethics committee by denying her romantic relationship with a man who allegedly made millions from sponsorship deals with her former department.
The report was compiled by a nine-member, multi-party panel which recommended that Pule be docked a month’s salary, and that she be reprimanded in the National Assembly by Speaker Max Sisulu.
The ethics committee adopted the full report, which was sent to the National Assembly for approval.
Pule was found guilty of failing to disclose the interests of her romantic partner Phosane Mngqibisa.
He benefited financially from the sponsorship of last year’s information and communications technology event, the ICT Indaba, which her department hosted in Cape Town.
“We found her guilty of failing to declare her relationship with Mr Mngqibisa,” said joint committee chair Ben Turok.
“She failed to declare the fact that he received material benefits which are financial and otherwise, and in failing to do so she broke the rules of the code of conduct of Parliament.”
The panel’s report was sent to the National Assembly (NA) and to Pule. Turok said the penalties could be imposed only if the NA approved the report.
“We are recommending a reprimand by the Speaker in the House, a 30-days’ salary equivalent fine, and 15-days’ suspension from all the committees in Parliament,” Turok said.
The Democratic Alliance welcomed the findings.
“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,” said MP Diane Kohler-Barnard, who served on the committee.
Pule consistently denied during panel hearings that Mngqibisa was her permanent companion, insisting he was a “friend”.
