By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General 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, and voluntarily stepped down without the party’s directive.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Pule’s appointment in this week’s Cabinet reshuffle, a decision that has sparked widespread public and political backlash.
She replaced former Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe, who was fired earlier this year following allegations of unethical conduct and governance failures within the department.
Pule, who serves in the ANC’s National Executive Committee, previously served as Minister of Communications under former president Jacob Zuma.
In 2013, Pule was removed from Cabinet by Zuma after a report by former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found that she had acted unlawfully and unethically and had repeatedly misled Parliament and investigators.
Her dismissal stemmed from a scandal involving her partner, Phosane Mngqibisa, who was found to have benefited from state resources used to fund international travel linked to the 2012 ICT Indaba.
Addressing the media at the party’s headquarters in Johannesburg, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said Pule has been rehabilitated and deserves another opportunity to serve.
“Has she shown remorse? Of course she did. Now the question before the ANC is: are we taking back an unrepentant person into office?” said Mbalula.
“No, we are not doing that. We believe that the comrade has actually learned from her mistakes.”
She completed a rigorous process of correction and rehabilitation more than a decade ago before earning her way back through democratic processes, added Mbalula.
Mbalula has also thanked the country’s law enforcement for managing the 30 June protests against undocumented migrants.
He said businesses were open, public transport was running and most South Africans were going about their normal routines.
Mbalula emphasized that immigration law enforcement remains a government responsibility. On the 30th of June, the country stood firm. They called for a shutdown,” Mbalula said.
“South Africa did not shut down. Our children went to school. Our workers went to work. Our buses, our taxis and our trains ran. Our clinics and our shops stayed open. The economy kept its feet and we foresee no grave job losses from the action.
“For this, we thank the overwhelming majority of South Africans who refused to be conscripted into anarchy. And we thank the men and women of the South African Police Service for maintaining law and order in the Republic.”
Meanwhile government’s Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration, visited the Beitbridge border post in Musina on Wednesday, 02 July 2026.
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister and IMC Chairperson Mmamoloko Kubayi announced that approximately 37 000 Malawian nationals had been repatriated with the help of the government.
She stressed that migration management and law enforcement remain the strict responsibility of the state, urging citizens to avoid vigilantism.
The IMC emphasized a balanced approach to migration. They enforce the law against illegal immigration while ensuring the humane treatment, constitutional safety, and orderly processing of individuals.