Sunday Times vindicated by Jonas confirmation of Guptas peddling top Cabinet post

The Sunday Times was vindicated on Wednesday after Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas confirmed that he had indeed been offered the job of Finance Minister by the Gupta family.

In a statement‚ as well as an interview at the SABC studios in Auckland Park‚ Jonas confirmed the influential family‚ friends of President Jacob Zuma‚ had met with him on November 27 and offered him former minister Nhlanhla Nene’s job.

“Members of the Gupta family offered me the position of Minister of Finance to replace then-Minister Nene. I rejected this out of hand. The basis of my rejection of their offer is that it makes a mockery of our hard-earned democracy‚ the trust of our people and no one apart from the President of the Republic appoints ministers‚” said Jonas in a statement late Wednesday afternoon.

Jonas‚ however‚ denied that he had received a call from ANC Deputy Secretary General Jessie Duarte also imploring on him to accept the appointment.

He said he was settling the matter “in accordance with my conscience‚ my political values and the best traditions of my organisation‚ the ANC‚ of which I have been a member since my early teens”.

Watch Jonas admit he received an offer from the Guptas:

Nene was removed as minister by Zuma on December 9‚ prompting unprecedented market ructions that saw the rand breach the R16 to the dollar mark for the first time in history. The recent allegations heightened speculations around the powerful Gupta’s grip on the state.

“The narrative that has grown around the issue of ‘state capture’ should be of concern to all responsible and caring South Africans‚ particularly those of us who have accepted the task to lead our people. We cannot afford to ignore the obvious impact these sentiments may have on our country and the resultant potential of undermining our moral authority‚” Jonas added.

The allegation was first published last week by the Financial Times‚ and the Sunday Times released details of the meeting where Ajay and Atul Gupta as well as Zuma’s son Duduzane were present.

Following the article the Guptas as well as the ANC denied that such a meeting took place. Spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said: “The organisation does not and shall not outsource this function to any members of the public‚ regardless on whose authority they may claim to be acting.”

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Former ANC MP Vygie Mentor this week also declared she had been approached by the Guptas to take up the Ministry of Public Enterprises. She said in a Facebook post that the family had made the offer while President Zuma was in the room next door. The Presidency meanwhile moved to deny the accusations‚ saying the President had no recollection of who Mentor was. Claims have also been made‚ by among others‚ EFF leader Julius Malema‚ that Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula was told of his appointment as minister by the Gupta family.

Jonas said: “I have hesitated to speak out publicly on this matter until now‚ but I feel it is no longer possible to remain quiet. Of primary concern to me is that this issue has a real danger of diverting attention away from the real and urgent challenges we face as a country”.

“I am committed to good governance‚ abiding by the constitution of our country and being accountable to our people who repeatedly express their confidence and trust in us‚ election after election.”

He concluded with a pledge to protect the national coffers: “I remain confident that the challenges that we face as a nation will be overcome if we collectively use our efforts for the benefit of all. I am resolute in playing my part in preserving the integrity of National Treasury as an institution…”

- TMG Digital/Sunday Times