GUPTAS DID IT – JONAS Eastern Cape ANC and SACP commend his ‘bravery

Deputy Finance Minister and former Eastern Cape economic development MEC Mcebisi Jonas dropped a bombshell when he confirmed that the controversial Gupta family had offered him the job of finance minister.

A week of speculation and denials were silenced with Jonas’ statement yesterday afternoon. He then took a flight to East London, where he is due to meet ANC leaders in the province today.

Jonas confirmed that the disputed November meeting – where the Guptas offered him former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene’s job, a month before the latter was fired – did take place and he had turned down the family, known for its close ties to President Jacob Zuma.

“Yes members of the Gupta family offered me the position of minister of finance to replace then Minister Nene.

“I rejected this out of hand and the basis of my rejection of their offer is that it makes a mockery of our hard-earned democracy and the trust of our people.”

Jonas said the “narrative that has grown around the issue of state capture should be of concern to all responsible and caring South Africans”.

“We cannot afford to ignore the obvious impact these sentiments may have on our country and the resultant potential of undermining our moral authority.”

The ANC and the SACP in the Eastern Cape commended Jonas for coming out publicly.

The Gupta family, meanwhile, accused Jonas of lying – challenging him to “provide a full account of the supposed meeting that took place, under oath, in a court of law”.

Last night ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane welcomed the developments “of people coming forward to present whatever evidence on the allegations that the corporate is capturing the state”.

Furthermore he said: “As much as we are in no position to comment on the matter as it drags the President’s name in a bad light, as the Eastern Cape alliance partners we made it clear that we condemn any form of patronage. That is why it was put to the President at our recent summit to explain himself in relation to this family.”

SACP provincial secretary Xolile Nqatha went further and called on “brave and dedicated comrades like Jonas” to come forward and give more evidence on such allegations against the Guptas.

“The SACP congratulates him for his bravery. We need as many comrades as possible to be bold enough and say what is wrong,” he said.

Nqatha added that “capturing of the state by corporate was threatening the standing of leaders in society”.

The Sunday Times reported on Jonas’ meeting with the Guptas this weekend, but it was strongly denied by the family.

The paper claimed that Zuma’s son Duduzane was present when the offer was made to Jonas.

But in his statement Jonas denied that he had ever been called by ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte about the Gupta offer.

He said he had initially avoided speaking publicly but now felt it was “no longer possible to remain quiet”.

“Neither can we afford to allow the attempts to capture the state to divert us from dealing with the challenges that our country faces. History will judge us on the extent to which we have stayed true to the commitment we have made to our people.

“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,” he said.

Jonas added: “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.”

Jonas’ comments came a day after outspoken former ANC parliamentary caucus chair Vytjie Mentor made similar startling claims that she was offered the position of minister of public enterprises.

This, she said, was offered to her while Zuma was in another room, at the same Gupta compound in Saxonwold. Zuma has denied knowing Mentor, saying he had “no recollection” of her. (See Page 6). However he did not deny her claim.

In a statement, the Gupta family said: “These latest allegations are just more political point-scoring between rival factions within the ANC. Jonas is attempting to cover up and divert attention from his own relationships and practices. We are confident questions about his own ethical standards will be exposed.”

In a short statement, Thabo Mbeki’s spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga said yesterday: “President Mbeki knows Ms Vytjie Mentor as an activist and valued ANC member of parliament.” He would not be drawn to make further comments on the matter.

Previously it emerged that the Gupta family told Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula of his appointment to Zuma’s cabinet before he was officially informed.

There was no response from the Presidency. — asandan@dispatch.co.za