Dina Pule corruption case returns to haunt her

Following the well-publicised Dina Pule corruption case of 2013, the African National Congress (ANC) member has done the impossible.

She’s back in a ministerial role again, in charge of the department overseeing all social grants. President Cyril Ramaphosa swore her in as the Minister of Social Development on 1 July 2026.

She replaces Sisisi Tolashe, axed in May 2026, over undisclosed donations to the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL). Tolashe replaced Lindiwe Zulu, herself quietly removed from the job over alleged irregular hiring. And Zulu followed Bathabile Dlamini, blamed for the infamous 2017 SASSA payments crisis.

2013 DINA PULE CORRUPTION CASE

However, 13-years earlier, the Dina Pule corruption case had here leaving Cabinet in disgrace. But what exactly happened, and can she be trusted with the National Treasury’s second largest annual budget expenditure? A job that affects nearly 45% of the population who rely on social welfare.

More than a decade ago, Pule served as Communications Minister. The scandal centered on her then-partner, businessman Phosane Mngqibisa. Parliament’s ethics committee found Mngqibisa’s company, Khemano, received around R6 million from the ICT Indaba, a conference run by Pule’s department. Moreover, it also funded his overseas trips to Mexico City, Prague and Paris. However, under oath, Pule denied the relationship.

THE ICT INDABA VERDICT

Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics didn’t buy the denials surrounding the Dina Pule corruption case. In August 2013, the panel found her guilty of concealing her relationship with Mngqibisa and willfully misleading Parliament.

The committee handed her the maximum penalty: Formal reprimand, a fine equal to 30 days’ salary, a 15-day suspension of parliamentary privileges, and exclusion from debates and committees.

But it didn’t stop there. The committee recommended criminal charges against Pule for misleading Parliament under oath. Then-Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, ran her own investigation. She concluded Pule’s conduct was, “unlawful, improper and constituted maladministration.”

BILLIONS IN BUDGET UNDER HER CONTROL

So, you’re all caught up on the Dina Pule corruption case. Fast forward to 2026, and she’s now the Social Development Minister, in charge of overseeing SASSA’s R271 billion in grants.

That’s more money than most ministries will ever see. Pule’s response to criticism has been characteristically unbothered. “It comes with this type of work,” she says, promising to prioritise service delivery for vulnerable South Africans.

Since taking office she’s rolled out stricter grant reviews, and vowed to deploy extra staff to SASSA offices to improve queue management.

Whether this has any tangible bearing on agency efficacy remains to be seen. The next to-do item on the minister’s list will be arguing with treasury over SASSA grant increases in October 2026 …   

But what do you think? Are you concerned about the old Dina Pule corruption case? Or do you think what’s in the past should stay in the past? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below …