Minister of Communications Dina Pule has lodged a formal complaint with the Press Ombudsman in relation to the smear campaign being waged against her by the Sunday Times.
The Sunday Times continues to publish false allegations against Minister Pule. This is despite the ongoing processes by the Parliament’s Ethics Committee and the Public Protector. The Sunday Times seems hell-bent on influencing the outcomes of these processes.
The latest fabricated story was published by the Sunday Times on 5 May 2013 in which the newspaper claimed that Minister Pule had sent a lawyer and a government official to apologise to the Sunday Times.
For the record, Minister Pule has not apologised to the Sunday Times, and has no intention to do so. The individuals mentioned by the Sunday Times do not represent Minister Pule. The Sunday Times even went further to allege that one of the individuals concerned is Minister Pule’s lawyer. This is false.
Sunday Times editors foolishly published the story without even checking the facts. Shockingly, the Sunday Times reported about this without even seeking a response from Minister Pule on the specific allegations.
This is a fabrication which is consistent with what the Sunday Times has been doing for many months. It is another example of shoddy journalism which has become a norm at the Sunday Times.
Minister Pule did not request anyone to represent her.
For media enquiries:
Siyabulela Qoza
Cell: 082 898 1657
E-mail: siya@doc.gov.za
