Minister a hired gun – DA

THE DA has accused the ANC of defanging parliament to protect President Jacob Zuma.

The ANC voted against a motion yesterday to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate allegations of state capture in government. DA finance spokesman David Maynier described the ANC’s action as “shameful”.

“The fact is that had an ad hoc committee been established, it would have had extensive powers – including powers to summon any person and powers to require any person or institution to report to it – in order to investigate.

“However‚ the African National Congress closed ranks in a desperate effort to protect President Jacob Zuma and the Gupta family from any investigation by parliament‚” said Maynier.

“Even Jeremy Cronin‚ who is opposed to state capture‚ voted against the motion‚ rather like a member of the Communist Party‚ condemned to the Gulag‚ singing songs in support of Stalin.

“What the African National Congress did today in Parliament was shameful‚” Maynier added.

Maynier also blasted Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane, describing him as a “hired gun” and the perfect illustration of what “state capture” is.

Maynier said on September 1, just as most ordinary people were thinking of “hitting the sack”, Zwane released an “extraordinary” statement announcing that the termination of financial services to Oakbay Investments should be investigated by a judicial commission of inquiry.

“This was a reminder that, although the Guptas are now less brazen, they are just as influential at getting what they want, when they want it, from President Jacob Zuma.”

Maynier called Zwane a “hired gun” and said he was “contracted” by the Guptas to carry out a “political hit” on the financial sector.

“Whatever the case, this is a perfect illustration of state capture, with a minister acting, not in the public interest, but in the private interests of one family, and that family is the Guptas.”

Hitting back and dismissing the notion of a captured state, ANC MP Joan Fubbs warned of a “dangerous tendency” to reduce the state to just government. “Governments change but states endure.”

DA leader Mmusi Maimane said it was their duty in the House to start “freeing our country from the grip of the Guptas”.