Serious accusation against Cyril Ramaphosa’s new ANC minister

The DA has accused South Africa’s new Minister of Social Development, Dina Pule, of failing to declare personal interests in companies to Parliament.

This is significant, as Pule is already under the microscope and has previously been found guilty of wrongdoing.

On 30 June 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa surprised the nation by appointing Pule as South Africa’s new Minister of Social Development.

The surprise stems from the fact that Pule was a disgraced former Communications Minister found guilty of unlawful and unethical conduct.

Following numerous complaints and reports about misconduct, former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela and Parliament’s Ethics Committee investigated Pule.

Madonsela found that Pule had persistently lied to Parliament, the public, and her own department regarding her relationship with Mngqibisa.

The Public Protector found that Pule’s conduct as Communications Minister was unlawful, improper, unethical, and constituted maladministration.

Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests found Pule guilty of violating the Executive Members’ Ethics Code.

She was handed the maximum penalties, including a formal reprimand in the National Assembly and a fine equivalent to 15 days’ salary.

The former Communications Minister also lost her parliamentary privileges for 15 days and was forced to issue a public apology to the National Assembly.

Despite Pule’s tainted past, the ANC defended Ramaphosa’s decision, saying that Pule had learned from her history and was fully rehabilitated.

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said that she successfully underwent a corrective process following her removal from Cabinet 13 years ago.

Mbalula welcomed her appointment, adding that the ANC has complete confidence that she would discharge her duties with dedication to serve South Africans.

Accusation that Dina Pule did not declare her interest in five companies

Nazley Sharif, a DA Member of the National Assembly, accused Pule of evading full disclosure of her personal interests.

“The DA will lodge an ethics complaint against the Minister after our investigation found that she failed to declare her interest in five companies to Parliament,” she said.

“This is from the same playbook that led to her removal in 2013 when the Parliamentary Ethics Committee found Pule guilty of failing to declare financial interests.”

“Not only did the Ethics Committee find wrongdoing, but the Hawks confirmed a criminal investigation into the Minister.”

Sharif added that the Public Protector also found unlawful payments to the Minister’s boyfriend and further R10 million in unlawful payments.

“Pule is unfit to be Minister of Social Development, a department that must be protected at all costs,” she said.

The DA will also ask the Hawks for an update on their criminal investigation and address other issues through the Parliament.

This includes writing to the Speaker of the National Assembly to determine whether the Public Protector’s recommendations were implemented.

This includes whether the money owed to the State was recovered and whether the National Assembly referred the Ethics Committee Report to SAPS and the NPA.

The DA will also submit parliamentary questions to all ministers to determine whether they have done business with Pule’s companies.