#GuptaLeaks: ‘I’ve done no wrong‚’ says Gigaba

Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba protested his innocence when asked about his links to the Gupta family‚ following the #GuptaLeaks earlier this week.

He and the chief executive of the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors were addressing a media briefing on Friday on the regulation of audit firms.

“No one has given me these emails or told me how they were obtained‚ whether through proper means or fabricated‚ so I don’t know‚” said Gigaba.

He stressed that ministers don’t sit in board meetings or make decisions on who to appoint.

• Gigaba says not implicated in leaked #GuptaEmailsFinance Minister Malusi Gigaba said on Friday he would not be implicated in documents leaked to the media that allegedly expose influence-peddling in government. 

“I have nothing to do with the procurement of state owned companies‚ and I don’t appoint committees‚ even in my current portfolio‚” he said.

“I have done no wrong. When you don’t know whether a person has malicious intentions‚ you will not be able to predict the outcome prior. I’m on record that we must run a clean government.”

Gigaba said he welcomed the announcement of a commission of inquiry into state capture: “We should be allowed to sit in the commission and answer to allegations.

“A commission of inquiry will assist us in finding clarity on the issues surfacing.”

• Gupta associates scored billions in kickbacks from Transnet deals - reportGupta family associates have been accused of scoring billions of rands in alleged kickbacks to help a Chinese firm win lucrative Transnet tenders. 

When asked a question in relation to the #GuptaLeaks and his relationship with the controversial family‚ he said he would not be implicated in the leaks about the Guptas interfering in the running of the country.

Gigaba said allegations that he was involved in anything untoward were “made to impugn my integrity and is meant to divert us from the work of transformation and growing the economy”.

He demanded that “they” show him “the proof” of any allegations about him.

On Thursday some media reported they had access to more than 100 000 documents and emails that showed‚ among other matters‚ improper dealings in lucrative government contracts by business friends of President Jacob Zuma.