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Former Communications Minister, Dina Pule, has been formally rebuked in parliament after being sacked recently by president Jacob Zuma.
Pule was found guilty of willfully misleading Parliament's ethics committee by denying her romantic relationship with businessman, Phosane Mngqibisa, who allegedly made millions from sponsorship deals with her former department.
Committee chairperson, Ben Turok, tabled his report in parliament on Tuesday with several recommendations that opposition parties said amounted to a slap on the wrist.
Parliamentary speaker, Max Sisulu, said the charges against are extremely serious.
"As public representatives we are constantly aware that the people of South Africa look to parliament and its members to display the highest ethical values and standards in what they say and how they conduct themselves. Your breach of the code of conduct has gravely undermined the peoples trust and brought this house and its members into disrepute," Sisulu said.
Pule, who remains an ANC member of parliament apologised to parliament.
".. I want to say in this house that I gave the best I could do to do my job and in the course of me doing my job I made a mistake, I am sorry, I apologise," she said.
