Letters | President’s decision a slap in the face

The appointment of Dina Pule as minister of Social Development leaves much to be desired and also reflects the poverty and degeneracy of the presidency. Were there no other candidates available that the president had to recycle an ANC “miscreant” of yesteryear? Pule was involved in alleged mismanagement of state coffers by ensuring that her associate Phosane Mngqibisa was favoured by allegedly having state contracts channelled to companies linked to him, scoring millions as a result.

She was the subject of damning findings of unlawful conduct by then Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, and was found guilty of ethical misconduct by Parliament’s ethics committee. Did this matter to the president at all? It was an egregious violation of her oath of office without question, and a tawdry fall from grace, I might add.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s excuse that everybody must be given a chance in life to mend, is a pathetic excuse to vindicate his decision in this matter. Of the 60 million odd people in South Africa, was Pule the only shining star available? I know that ministers are appointed at the president’s pleasure and he sadly does not owe the electorate any explanation of his choice, but surely under the circumstances that prevail in the country regarding corruption or the perception thereto, he could have chosen someone with better credentials?

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Noting that she was fired by a president who himself faces allegations of corruption and is trying to avoid trial, one has to question the appointment. Pule’s terse apology at the time was, to put it mildly, unyieldingly unapologetic. She chose to absolve herself from blame which is the same hymn sheet from which every government official sings when fingered with allegations of wrongdoing. This appointment is a slap in the face of all South Africans who are hoping for true leadership, which is sadly lacking.

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