Under-fire Zuma fights back

THE Gupta family’s shadow fell firmly over parliament yesterday as President Jacob Zuma defended himself in a worsening corruption scandal. Brushing off allegations about the family’s hand in ministerial appointments, Zuma claimed to be in charge of the country and not influenced by them.

The EFF boycotted the proceedings, saying they no longer had faith in him as president, the DA walked out, and only about half of the cabinet attended.

Meanwhile, the SA Communist Party (SACP) has called on members of the movement who were offered cabinet and senior positions in parastatals by the Gupta family to come forward publicly.

SACP spokesman Alex Mashilo said yesterday his party had called a meeting with the ANC to discuss the unfolding events.

He said the SACP expected Zuma to account for the allegations about the influence of the Gupta family.

“We call on other cadres of the movement who had similar experiences to come forward publicly. Their silence amounts to betrayal,” he said.

Mashilo said the party would demand that Zuma explain how the Gupta brothers gained prior knowledge about some of the appointments.

“It is us who fought the liberation struggle and not the Gupta family,” he said.

“As the president says he has the powers to appoint, we want to know how come the Guptas know beforehand some of the people he intends to appoint.”

The day started in parliament with a meeting of the ANC caucus, which lasted for more than 2½ hours.

Afterwards, ANC MPs stood around in groups, locked in earnest discussion.

Caucus sources claimed the tide was flowing against Zuma, although it was unclear whether he had lost the support of the majority of caucus.

“One can see the way the wind is blowing, but it is unclear how strong it is,” a senior ANC MP said.

“The question is what is in the best interest of the country and the ANC?

“Some MPs will calculate what is in their own interests, and people will have to calculate whether it is good for the change to take place before the local government elections.”

He said the recall of Zuma was a decision for the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC), not the parliamentary caucus.

When Zuma arrived in the National Assembly for oral questions shortly before 2pm, he initially sat alone in his bench before being joined by veteran ANC MP Mnyami Booi.

The latest graft claims to hit the president erupted after Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas said he was offered the top job in the Treasury by the Guptas.

And yesterday, Public Works and Administration Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi disclosed that he had also received an approach from the Gupta family when he was appointed to his previous post as mineral resource minister.

“We did receive an invite as soon as the minister was appointed, but he told them he was not taking any invites because his focus was to resolve the platinum strike‚” his spokesman, Mahlodi Muofhe, said.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane brought up Jonas’s allegations in parliament and asked Zuma whether the Gupta family had ever offered anybody a cabinet position.

After delivering his trademark chuckle, Zuma replied: “Don’t ask me. Where do I come in? I had no business with that.”

Zuma said only he had the power to appoint and fire ministers and “there is no minister here who has ever been appointed by the Guptas or anyone else”.

When Maimane accused Zuma of failing to answer follow-up questions, he was ordered to leave the house, and the rest of the DA MPs walked out in solidarity.

UDM leader Bantu Holomisa asked Zuma how he was going to investigate the claims.

Zuma answered that it was Jonas claiming the offer had been made, so he should be asked.

“I wasn’t there. My name was not even mentioned. Where does the evidence come from?” he asked.

“I will not have the matter investigated, because I had nothing to do with it.”

IFP MP Sibongile Nkomo then asked Zuma whether anyone had influenced his sacking of former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene in December.

Zuma, who by now was agitated, said no action to replace a minister was ever taken without reason. He said the rand was already on a “downward slope” when Nene was fired, and that markets react “according to their own temperaments”.

Zuma said his decision to fire Nene was well considered.

Before the National Assembly drama, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula refused to comment on the Gupta issue, saying: “I owe nobody an explanation.”

The clearly annoyed minister shut down questions about whether he had heard of his appointment from the Gupta family, saying: “We are not governed by Guptas. We are not run by Guptas.”

The ANC Youth League has called for Jonas to be fired. But he is not the only one on the league’s hit list.

League secretary-general Njabulo Nzuza said they would single out and deal with ANC members who were part of the communist faction of the ANC working to sow divisions in the party.

They listed a number of ministers who serve in the cabinet. They include SACP general secretary and Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande, Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi and Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies.

“We are fully aware that Jonas is not working alone. There is a bigger plot to delegitimise President Zuma,” Nzuza said.

He said there was a “communist posture faction” in the ANC which was only interested in cabinet positions. – Additional reporting by TMG Digital and AFP