How the Zuptas hounded Hogan

Former public enterprises minister Barbara Hogan is expected to testify how then president Jacob Zuma made it difficult for her to do her job and how his friends, the Guptas, pressurised her into scrapping a lucrative flight route to benefit their business interest.

Hogan – who during her late husband, Struggle icon Ahmed Kathrada’s funeral last year described Zuma as a president who had “gone rogue” and “defied his own party” – is expected to tell all when the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture resumes today.

The Struggle stalwart is expected to give evidence about the events building up to Zuma’s 2010 cabinet reshuffle and her knowledge of the reasons she had been fired. She was one of seven ministers removed during Zuma’s first of 11 cabinet reshuffles.

Hogan, who served as public enterprise minister between 2009 and 2010, will attest to the pressure she endured by members of the controversial Gupta family and their business associates to scrap a lucrative flight route between Johannesburg and Mumbai, which at the time was dominated by South African Airways.

Hogan’s testimony is also expected to describe the working relationship between herself and Zuma. In 2016 she was interviewed by then public protector Thuli Madonsela – her statement forming an integral part of Madonsela’s “State of Capture” report.

In the interview, Hogan said Zuma and then ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe “took interest” in her mandate to make appointment on the boards of various state-owned entities like Eskom, Transnet and Denel.

Leaked e-mails from within the Gupta business empire revealed in 2017 how the family and their associates used their influence over government officials to score millions in tenders from these state-owned companies.

Hogan told Madonsela that Zuma was particularly interested in the board members at Eskom and Transnet and Mantashe in those at Transnet specifically.

She also alleged that Zuma made it difficult for her to do her job – at a certain point not allowing her to appoint senior managers in her department.

Hogan has also cited a state visit to India in 2010, where the Gupta family allegedly took over control.

Former finance minister Pravin Gordhan is expected to testify on Friday.

The Guptas hijacked state visit to India