Mngxitama rubbishes Gupta links
“E-mails created to defend white capital”
Black First Land First (BLF) president Andile Mngxitama has responded to reports that he approached Gupta family associate Nazeem Howa for funding last year‚ saying they were “rubbish”.
“You are writing rubbish!” he said yesterday. Mngxitama accused reporters of lying and when offered copies of phone records‚ he insisted the report was rubbish.
“I don’t give a f**k man‚” he said‚ demanding evidence he spoke with Gupta family associates. “It is a fake e-mail you created. You will have to show where you got the e-mail. You have created the email to defend white monopoly capital.”
Asked to confirm his e-mail address and if he allowed others access to it, he said: “No‚ that’s my e-mail address.
“The point is you have created a fake e-mail. My e-mail address is public. You are trying to divert attention from white corruption‚” Mngxitama said.
Leaked e-mails showed that Mngxitama went cap in hand asking for financial backing from the controversial Gupta family last year.
Reports have alleged that the former EFF MP might be bankrolled by the Guptas but these have been strenuously denied‚ although he has actively supported the family and its companies publicly.
Mngxitama has consistently denied that he was funded by the family‚ most recently on May 14 during BLF’s first anniversary in Soweto.
“There is no slight evidence to back up these claims that are being made by agents of white monopoly capital‚ by the people who are controlled from London and by people funded by newspapers‚” Eye Witness News quoted him as saying.
But the e-mail shows that he asked the Guptas for money. In 2016 e-mail exchanges with Howa‚ Mngxitama expresses gratitude towards the former, referring to a meeting they had recently had.
In the e-mails, seen by The Times‚ Mngxitama writes: “Brother Nazeem it was good to meet and to learn a bit more about your thinking and the truth around the renewed attacks from imperialism and its agents. Keep strong and keep doing the right thing.”
The leaked document suggest an exchange of at least 10 emails between Sahara employee Santosh Choubey and Mngxitama between February and March‚ the final exchange confirming a meeting at a restaurant in Sandton.