Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas was threatened on Wednesday by a prominent businessman as he prepared to blow the lid on the Gupta family’s role in selecting a previous finance minister.
Jonas confirmed on Wednesday that he was approached by the family and offered the position before the axing of the then minister Nhlanhla Nene in December last year.
While preparing a statement‚ Jonas received a text message saying: “Please keep your own counsel. Martyrdom is best left to Christ.”
People close to Jonas said he saw this as a threat‚ and that it was part of an attempt to prevent him from confirming his meeting with the Gupta family.
“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 the offer is that it makes a mockery of our Constitution and hard-earned democracy‚” Jonas said.
His disclosure lends credence to allegations that the family‚ whose members are friends of President Jacob Zuma and benefactors to his son Duduzane Zuma‚ are trying to “capture” the Treasury to advance their own business interests.
On Wednesday night the Guptas said suggestions that the family had offered anyone a job in government was “totally false“.
“We challenge Minister Jonas to provide a full account of the supposed meeting that took place‚ under oath‚ in a court of law. Minister Jonas is attempting to cover up and divert attention away from his own relationships and practices.
“We are confident questions about his own ethical standards will be exposed‚” they said.
Zuma has consistently defended his relationship with the Guptas and claimed that there was nothing untoward about it.
The revelation by Jonas not only disproves this but places the president in an awkward position ahead of a crucial African National Congress (ANC) national executive committee (NEC) meeting this weekend.
The South African Communist Party (SACP) urged the ANC and its alliance to “protect” Jonas.
Second deputy general secretary Solly Mapaila said: “We will assure his protection‚” and that Jonas not be victimised.
The Treasury did not comment on the threats on Wednesday.
'Martyrdom is best left to Christ' - Businessman's threat to Jonas
Jonas confirmed on Wednesday that he was approached by the family and offered the position before the axing of the then minister Nhlanhla Nene in December last year.
While preparing a statement‚ Jonas received a text message saying: “Please keep your own counsel. Martyrdom is best left to Christ.”
People close to Jonas said he saw this as a threat‚ and that it was part of an attempt to prevent him from confirming his meeting with the Gupta family.
“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 the offer is that it makes a mockery of our Constitution and hard-earned democracy‚” Jonas said.
His disclosure lends credence to allegations that the family‚ whose members are friends of President Jacob Zuma and benefactors to his son Duduzane Zuma‚ are trying to “capture” the Treasury to advance their own business interests.
On Wednesday night the Guptas said suggestions that the family had offered anyone a job in government was “totally false“.
“We challenge Minister Jonas to provide a full account of the supposed meeting that took place‚ under oath‚ in a court of law. Minister Jonas is attempting to cover up and divert attention away from his own relationships and practices.
“We are confident questions about his own ethical standards will be exposed‚” they said.
Zuma has consistently defended his relationship with the Guptas and claimed that there was nothing untoward about it.
The revelation by Jonas not only disproves this but places the president in an awkward position ahead of a crucial African National Congress (ANC) national executive committee (NEC) meeting this weekend.
The South African Communist Party (SACP) urged the ANC and its alliance to “protect” Jonas.
Second deputy general secretary Solly Mapaila said: “We will assure his protection‚” and that Jonas not be victimised.
The Treasury did not comment on the threats on Wednesday.
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