Cape Town – The Democratic Alliance (DA) has rejected President Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment of Dina Pule as Minister of Social Development, calling for an immediate lifestyle audit and questioning her suitability for the role.
The criticism comes after ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula defended Pule’s appointment, saying she had already faced the consequences of her actions more than a decade ago and had accepted the sanctions imposed on her.
“We do not dismiss the concern this appointment has stirred, and we understand where it comes from,” he said. “Ours is a movement in the midst of renewing its values, its ethical standing and the trust of the people.”
He argued that Pule had already faced the consequences of her actions more than a decade ago, noting that she accepted the sanctions imposed on her. According to Mbalula, she stepped down from her government and parliamentary positions, withdrew from ANC leadership structures and chose not to remain in the public spotlight.
ANC SG Fikile Mbalula says the newly appointed Minister of Social Development, Dina Pule, should not be condemned in perpetuity after she was sanctioned, publicly apologised in Parliament, voluntarily stepped down without ANC directive, disappeared from structures on the advice… pic.twitter.com/TqwdDHRD0H
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) July 2, 2026
Instead, he said, Pule dedicated herself to community work, helping to uplift thousands of people away from public attention.
“That is what accountability looks like,” Mbalula said, adding that South Africans do not impose “life sentences” on individuals who have acknowledged wrongdoing, accepted punishment and demonstrated genuine efforts to rebuild trust.
However, DA spokesperson on Social Development Nazley Sharif said on Monday that Pule’s past record makes her “utterly unfit” to serve in Cabinet.
Sharif alleged that Pule’s track record includes unethical conduct, breaching her oath of office as a minister, bringing Parliament into disrepute, misleading Parliament, maladministration, criminal investigations, improperly benefiting her boyfriend and unlawful payments amounting to R10 million.
According to Sharif, the most serious allegation is that a scheme was devised and implemented to allow Pule’s boyfriend to benefit unlawfully from taxpayers’ money, with R6 million allegedly transferred into his bank account.
[WATCH] Forensic investigator Dorothy Mmushi questions the return of the ANC’s Dina Pule to cabinet despite her history and “dark clouds hanging over her head”. She says such decisions need scrutiny. pic.twitter.com/XvquxILKdg
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) July 5, 2026
“For this reason, no one can trust Dina Pule with state resources, and the DA demands that upon her coming into office a lifestyle audit must immediately be conducted. This will provide a baseline upon which her ministerial tenure may be measured,” Sharif said.
She added that there was “no reason or evidence” to suggest Pule would not repeat her past conduct, arguing that a lifestyle audit of her assets, finances and current standard of living was necessary to safeguard public funds.
Sharif also said the DA would continue to advocate for social grant beneficiaries, whom she said deserve “a minister of impeccable credentials, not a minister who was fired by Jacob Zuma for being so bad that even he could not tolerate her any longer”.
She reiterated that the party rejects President Ramaphosa’s decision to appoint Pule and vowed to continue pushing for accountability.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
