New Age saga next

The Gupta family’s push for the control of the Government Communication and Information Systems (GCIS) advertising budget will have a sequel at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture when Themba Maseko, former chief executive officer of the communications agency, takes the stand today.

Maseko is expected to reveal details of how the Gupta brothers placed him under pressure to place government adverts in their newspaper – the now defunct New

Age newspaper. Maseko two years ago spoke out publicly about how former president Jacob Zuma arranged a meeting with him and the Guptas when he was GCIS boss. This followed a call by Zuma to him requesting that he “help” the Gupta brothers.

Commission chairperson Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo is next week expected to rule on applications lodged by lawyers representing implicated individuals wishing to cross-examine witnesses, who include former finance deputy minister Mcebisi Jonas and former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor.

Among those whose lawyers are seeking to cross-examine witnesses are Hawks major-general Zinhle Mnonopi, Ajay Gupta, advocate Alouis Mtolo, businessperson Fana Hlongwane and former Zuma aide Lakela Kaunda.

During his testimony last week, Jonas told the inquiry that Mnonopi had allegedly tried to “kill” a case of the Guptas’ attempt to bribe him with R600 million if he accepted the job of finance minister in 2015, which he declined.

Mnonopi had prepared a statement for Jonas to sign, which he refused.

Kaunda has been implicated for having arranged a meeting between the Guptas and Mentor eight years ago, when the former ANC MP was offered the post of public enterprises minister.

Senior counsel Mike Hellens could yesterday not confirm whether his client Ajay Gupta would be available to attend the inquiry during cross-examination of witnesses, only saying it was “a matter under discussion”.