CAPE TOWN – The Gupta family on Monday welcomed a decision by South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress, to probe the existence of state capture following claims by current and former senior ANC members that they were inappropriately approached by the family.
“We welcome this process which should ultimately allow the truth to be recognised and end this current trial by innuendo and slander. We will fully cooperate with the Office of the Secretary General during the information gathering process,” the family said in a statement.
“We will fully cooperate with the Office of the Secretary General during the information gathering process.”
We reiterate our support for the country’s Constitution and the rule of law and believe state capture from any quarter should be condemned. We remain committed to the overall well-being of South Africa and all its citizens.”
Following the weekend’s meeting of the ANC national executive committee, the party’s secretary general Gwede Mantashe called on people who have experienced inappropriate advances by the Guptas to blow the whistle, and in turn the party would protect them.
Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas dropped a bombshell last week by confirming reports that the Gupta family had approached him to take over as finance minister a few days before Zuma fired Nhlanhla Nene from the post in December.
On Thursday, Zuma told Parliament that the Gupta family had never appointed any Cabinet minister.
“There is no minister who is here who was ever appointed by the Guptas or by anybody else,” he told the National Assembly.
During the same week, former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor said Zuma was present several years ago when the Indian family offered her the post of public enterprises minister. Mentor claimed they wanted her to drop the South African Airways route to India so that a Gupta-linked airline could a take over the route.
On Sunday, the Sunday Times reported that former Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) CEO Themba Maseko had directly implicated Zuma in a push to give government business to the Gupta family.
The newspaper reported that Maseko was called by Zuma prior to a meeting with the Guptas in Saxonwold, Johannesburg, and asked to “help them”.
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