Communications Minister Dina Pule would face complaints that have been lodged against her at a nine-member panel hearing from April 22 to 26.

The panel, formed by the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests and chaired by senior African National Congress MP Professor Ben Turok, would “hold a hearing on the matter concerning” Pule.

“The committee took a decision on February 20 that, in terms of paragraph 3.1 of the procedure for the investigation of complaints, a hearing must be held to deal with complaints against Minister Pule,” said the committee’s cochairperson Lemias Mashile in a statement released by the Parliamentary Communication Services.

He did not elaborate further on what the “complaints” comprised.

This comes as Pule’s actions within the Department of Communications were publicly scrutinised in what she had labelled a politically motivated “smear campaign” over the past year.

Spokesperson Siya Qoza said the Minister welcomed the hearing and would cooperate fully.

Other panel members included Andrew Mlangeni, Bhekizizwe Radebe, Modjadji Mangena, Diane Kohler Barnard, Jacobus van der Merwe, Thabo Makunyane, Zukiswa Rantho and Swaphi Plaatjie.