Zuma fails to account

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma says that no cabinet minister was appointed by the Gupta family or anyone else. He did it all, and his removal of finance minister Nhlanhla Nene had been well-considered.

So saying, perhaps he hoped to hush the row over the influence in his government of the Gupta family. It will not fade, however – not after a deputy minister confirmed the Guptas offered him a cabinet post, and after a senior MP disclosed similar.

These were weighty, first-hand witnesses, raising a vital constitutional issue which has been dubbed “state capture” – private sector figures manipulating some in high government positions for their own ends, and thus affecting the country’s course.

But the president’s responses were inadequate for the gravity of the issue. He did not deal with accusations of corruption or enrichment, nor specifics raised by the witnesses accusing the Guptas.

He did not confront, either, a passionate accusation that power had shifted from the Union Buildings and Luthuli House to the Gupta homestead in Saxonwold. He merely denied the Guptas had made any appointments – not that they might have offered cabinet posts to others.

The basis of his defence – “why ask me?” – was that he was unaware of discussions the Guptas might have had with colleagues. So he could not deny his colleagues’ assertions of cabinet offers from the Guptas.

But he stopped short of scolding anyone doing it, and did not accuse those who might of fraud. And he did not use the opportunity to issue a pledge against “state capture”.

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