Malatsi orders recovery of R15,308 from Dina Pule’s former companion State-funded trips - IOL

Newly-appointed Social Development Minister Dina Pule.

Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi has ordered the recovery of over R15,000 from businessman Phosane Mngqibisa for costs incurred by the department during his overseas travel as companion of Social Development Minister Dina Pule over ten years ago.

This comes after DA MP Nazley Sharif asked whether the department recovered the money spent on all overseas trips of Mngqibisa after then public protector Thuli Madonsela conducted an investigation into allegations of maladministration, corruption and potential conflict of interest against Pule when she was the minister of communications.

This happened after Pule was appointed in July as the Social Development Minister, sparking a public outcry with many making references to the investigations that were conducted by Madonsela and Parliament into her conduct when she was minister of communications.

Among the allegations Madonsela investigated was that Pule improperly, and in violation of the Executive Ethics Code, represented to her department that Mngqibisa was her spouse and travelled with him overseas at State expense.

In a report released in December 2013, the former public protector found that Pule represented to the Department that Mngqibisa was her official companion and that the minister had confirmed that they had a romantic relationship.

Pule had offered to ensure that all departmental expenditure on Mngqibisa’s trips were reimbursed.

She had revealed that Mngqibisa was not her spouse as he was married to someone else under civil law and was therefore not entitled to spousal benefits. 

The report said R89 326.35 was inappropriately spent on Mngqibisa by the department when he accompanied Pule on her official visit to Mexico in September 2009.

Madonsela had ordered the department to calculate and reclaim funds owed by Mngqibisa and commission an audit to verify all the overseas trips undertaken by Mngqibisa at state expense while accompanying Pule and recover any expenditure the department had improperly incurred on his behalf.

In her parliamentary questions, Sharif asked whether Malatsi would furnish her with proof that all amounts spent on all Mngqibisa’s overseas trips were properly quantified and whether every cent was paid back to the State.

In his response, Malatsi said the department’s records indicated that Mngqibisa received benefits amounting to R104,635 for the Mexico trip and the subsequent extension of the trip to New York.

“This amount comprised expenditure incurred by the Department on his flights, accommodation and car hire,” he said.

Malatsi said Mngqibisa reimbursed the department an amount of R89 326.35 on July 18, 2013.

“According to the Special Investigating Unit, the R89 326.35 reimbursement did not include expenditure associated with the extension of the trip to New York, as the department was not aware of the extension at the time,” he said.

Malatsi also said the total expenditure identified by his department, including the New York extension, was R104 635, leaving an outstanding amount of R15 308.65. 

“It has become apparent that the department did not follow up on the recovery of the outstanding amount of R15 308.65. The minister has instructed the department to initiate the necessary process to recover the outstanding amount from Mr Mngqibisa.”

The minister added that the department has been instructed to take the necessary steps to ensure that the recovery of the funds was followed through to finalisation.

Meanwhile, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia recently confirmed that the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, probed a case that arose from the parliamentary investigation into Pule’s breaches of the Code for MPs.

“The investigation has been finalised and the case docket was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions for decision,” Cachalia said.

The Ethics Committee had referred to the police and the National Prosecuting Authority the potential breach of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliaments and Provincial Legislatures Act.