I am not captured by Guptas, says Zwane
A DEFIANT Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane has brushed off claims that he is captured‚ defending his decision to meet the Gupta family.
He appeared before parliament’s mineral resources oversight committee yesterday to answer questions on allegations of state capture and his personal involvement.
He faced a string of questions from MPs on his personal relationship with the Guptas‚ his trips abroad to facilitate the sale of Optimum Coal to Gupta-owned Tegeta‚ as well as the failed Vrede farm project during his time as an MEC in the Free State.
While he did not deny reports that he had travelled to Dubai and Switzerland to facilitate the sale of Optimum Coal to Gupta-owned Tegeta‚ he said there was nothing untoward and it was all state business and mining companies were his “clients”.
He instead asked the committee why its members were only interested in the Gupta family.
An almost flippant Zwane appeared dismissive of questions put to him by MPs, asking the committee: “Am I under investigation?” He called for “specifics”‚ saying the letter from parliament “was “very vague” as it just said “state capture come and answer”.
“We have to deal with facts‚ leave fictions and rumours and allegations. As honourable members we should be honourable enough to deal with facts, not media allegations,” Zwane said.
“Specifically‚ what are the questions I need to answer related to this issue of state capture so that I know?”
Zwane is facing complaints of high treason‚ extortion‚ corruption‚ fraud and theft, laid by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa).
The charges relate to Zwane’s alleged role in helping the Gupta family to acquire the Optimum Coal Mine.
He is also accused of channelling money from the Free State Vrede Dairy Farm project to fund the Guptas’ niece’s Sun City wedding.
He said he had answered questions put to him by MPs “more than 10 times” on different platforms.
“I just wish members could take notes
so that we do not forget them and bring them back again‚” Zwane said.
He said his trips to Dubai had not been to meet only the Guptas and that he had also met with Glencore owners.
“I have answered that. I meet many businesspeople as I do my work. It is the same with this family. Why this family?
“Why is this portfolio committee just interested in my meeting with just one family?
“In Dubai I also met some interesting businesspeople, including businesspeople from South Africa in the diamond industry‚” Zwane said.
On the Vrede dairy farm project‚ Zwane distanced himself, saying he had not approved the project.
He is a former Free State agriculture and rural development‚ tourism and environmental affairs MEC. “It was approved by the whole Free State legislature‚ even the EFF. There are records that the DA supported the project‚” Zwane said.
He said he knew nothing about the R30-million from the dairy project which is alleged to have funded the lavish Gupta family wedding at Sun City.
“Whose wedding? – because my wedding was a long time ago‚” Zwane said.
This led to the EFF’s Nazier Paulsen calling Zwane “mad and crazy”.
Paulsen also asked Zwane whether he had met with anyone from Tegeta to discuss the sale of Optimum Coal.
“The minister is deliberately sidetracking us‚” Paulsen said.
Before adjourning the meeting‚ committee chairman Zet Luzipho said from a committee point of view‚ they would have to look at whether Zwane in his application of executive authority had acted irregularly. –