Pauw’s book nothing but a sham – Zuma ally
DURBAN businessman and “close friend” of President Jacob Zuma, Roy Moodley, has broken his silence on Jacques Pauw’s book The President’s Keepers.
At the weekend, Moodley described the book as a sham, accusing Pauw of using his name and that of Zuma and the Guptas to pique the interest of South Africans without the ability to prove the claims.
Moodley was named in the book, written by investigative journalist Pauw, for allegedly paying Zuma a R1 million a month salary during his first few months as president.
Pauw did not respond to messages and calls yesterday.
Moodley was speaking at the SA National Civics Organisation gala dinner on Saturday night at the Durban ICC, as the organisation’s national treasurer.
ANC treasurer general Zweli Mkhize and Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Andries Nel were among the crowd of more than 500 people. Moodley told guests he had been a “popular” man recently and had kept silent “as silence is better than gossip”.
But once on the podium, Moodley took a firm stance saying that Pauw’s book was packed with unverified information and only Moodley could reveal the truth. “I will say what happened. I know the truth and it will come out.”
Moodley said those who bought the book were “much more intelligent than Jacques Pauw” because they believed the media over the president, who in Parliament denied receiving the alleged payment. “It is so strange that when the president was asked the question in Parliament by the DA, he said no, but no one believed him. They believed the DA.”
Moodley claimed that the country was being run by the media – whatever was published in the media was perceived to be the truth.
Instead of focusing on the bigger picture and the balance of the country’s money, the media chose to focus on a “small corner” that included the Guptas, he said.