PRETORIA, Gauteng — The Democratic Alliance (DA) is officially pushing for a Dina Pule lifestyle audit following her controversial installation as the new Social Development Minister. The opposition party has formally petitioned the executive branch to investigate the financial affairs and asset declarations of the cabinet member, pointing to her troubled history in government.
Spearheading this push, DA MP Nazley Sharif has dispatched a formal request to Phindile Baleni, who serves as both the Secretary of Cabinet and the Director-General in the Presidency. The opposition argues that a thorough financial examination is necessary to bring transparency to Pule’s wealth and holdings, especially given her past entanglement in severe ethical probes.
At the heart of the controversy is Pule’s track record. She is returning to a senior cabinet position after being dismissed from her post as the Minister of Communications. The DA maintains that placing an individual with a history of proven ethical violations at the helm of such a crucial social portfolio is highly inappropriate and dangerous for public trust.
Beyond the specific audit, the opposition is using this appointment to challenge the ruling party’s broader political narrative. DA representatives argue that elevating a known loyalist of former President Jacob Zuma reeks of hypocrisy and directly undermines the African National Congress’s (ANC) stated goals of political renewal and anti-corruption. They warn that ignoring these ethical red flags will have severe consequences at the ballot box as national elections approach.
Conversely, the ANC has stood by its decision to include Pule in the cabinet. Speaking to the press, ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula addressed the backlash by asserting that the political organization strongly supports the principle of redemption. He further defended her standing by highlighting her ongoing senior leadership roles within the party’s Women’s League, suggesting her experience and rehabilitation justify her new mandate.