South Africa’s presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj has hit out at weekend reports claiming that communications minister Dina Pule is to be imminently fired from her post.

The Sunday Independent reported yesterday that Pule “looks set to be booted from cabinet.”

The paper reported that Pule has met with President Jacob Zuma and that she has asked to be ‘deployed’ as an ambassador after it became clear that she was about to be sacked.

Controversy has surrounded Pule since she took over the communications portfolio from the late Roy Padayachie in 2011.

The department of communications has publicly said it could fail to meet an International Telecommunications Union (ITU) deadline to switchover to digital television broadcasts in June 2015. South Africa’s government had initially planned to make the switch by 2008.

The minister has further faced public criticism for government blocking the proposed sale of 20% of fixed line operator Telkom to Korea’s KT Corp.

And of late, Pule has faced accusations of giving millions of Rands in sponsorship money - budgeted for last year’s ICT Indaba in Cape Town - to her alleged boyfriend, Phosane Mngqibisa.

But Jacob Zuma’s spokesperson has lashed out at reports about her possible ousting.

“The Presidency has noted the carefully orchestrated rumour published by most Sunday newspapers ... that President Zuma is to relieve the Minister of Communications, Ms Dina Pule, of her duties and reshuffle his cabinet,” said Mac Maharaj.

“The rumour and speculation are mischievous and will not distract government from the main activity this coming week, the State of the Nation Address by the President,” he added.

If Pule is replaced, the country could have its fourth communications minister in four years.

“It is understood that Lindiwe Zulu, Zuma’s adviser on international relations, will possibly take over from Pule,” the Sunday Independent has said.

Zulu has been elected by the ANC’s national executive committee to head up its communications sub-committee.