Chinks in Gigaba’s shining armour
OUR current Minister of Finance, Malusi Gigaba, always impeccably dressed in designer suits, is forever seen portraying himself as squeaky-clean – physically and morally.
Recent revelations of his naturalisation of some members of the Gupta family, while he was Minister of Home Affairs, indicate chinks in his armour.
Many members of the Gupta family – with the exception of Ajay – were given “special consideration” by Gigaba to obtain South African citizenship, despite the absence of the mandatory five-year continuous stay in this country.
This irregularity turned into an illegal act because Gigaba failed to report the naturalisation to Parliament, during his tenure as Minister of Home Affairs.
His rebuttal: “There was no wrongdoing on my part.”
Gigaba and the current Minister of Home Affairs, Hlengiwe Mkhize, both did not attend Parliament’s Portfolio Home Affairs Committee to answer questions on the irregularity.
Instead, the director-general of Home Affairs, Mkuseli Apkeni, had to act as spokesperson on behalf of the absent ministers.
Pressed for an explanation as to Gigaba’s failure to report the Gupta naturalisation, the DG callously stated it was an “oversight”.
An illegal act quoted as an “oversight” and portrayed as “no wrongdoing”, by the man currently holding our country’s purse strings, is cause for grave concern.
Gigaba should have put all his other appointments on hold to attend the portfolio committee meeting on Tuesday because any hint of Gupta-linked scandals is hot news, given the e-mails doing the rounds.
Gigaba is perceived by many to have paved the way for the Guptas. First, as Minister of Public Enterprises (with notable changes to the boards of Eskom and other state-owned enterprises), then as Minister of Home Affairs. What’s next?
It has been a slippery slope – the track record of our SOES speak volumes.
Let’s stop any further gigs. Taxpayers and the general citizenry are justifiably concerned.
Gigaba’s squeaky-clean moral image should now be placed under the spotlight.
GONA GOVENDER La Mercy