Jonas faces close scrutiny at the inquiry

Former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas is expected to face tough questions to determine whether it is true that the Gupta family wanted to bribe him to accept an offer to become finance minister, when he testifies in the Zondo commission of inquiry investigating state capture on Friday.

Advocate Phillip Mokoena will be leading evidence and is expected to ask Jonas detailed questions on how the Guptas allegedly offered him in 2015 the job of finance minister and a R600,000 bribe that would balloon to R600m should he accept.

Jonas has recalled events of November 27 in 2015, when he met former president Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane who took him to the Gupta’s Saxonwold home.

The Sunday Times first reported in March 2016 that the Guptas offered Jonas the finance minister job if he agreed to certain conditions.

In the meeting, where Duduzane and arms deal fixer Fana Hlongwane were said to be present, Ajay Gupta allegedly told Jonas they would make him finance minister.

Investigators working under former auditor-general Terrence Nombembe have been trying to corroborate Jonas’s version of events by relying on phone records, SMSs and vehicle tracking history.

The Guptas allegedly offered Jonas the job of finance minister in 2015