Guptas helped my son
ANC MEETING FORCES PRESIDENT TO EXPLAIN LINK WITH HIS FRIENDS
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has come under attack from Eastern Cape alliance leaders who demanded answers about his relationship with the Gupta family.
Zuma was told that reports about his links with the influential Guptas were compromising the ANC’s image.
ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) member Phumelele Ndamase asked Zuma to explain why he was being linked to the Guptas “as these media reports are now compromising the ANC’s image”.
At least four sources who were part of a Sunday afternoon alliance meeting at the Osner Hotel in East London confirmed that Ndamase demanded a full explanation.
In response Zuma gave details of how his son, Duduzane, battled to secure a job as an intern in the IT industry. At the time Zuma was deputy president.
An alliance insider said Zuma gave an impression that the Guptas rescued his son. “He told us that the Guptas came to his rescue and hired Duduzane. He painted a picture of a child who was very much in need to build his own career but doors were closed for him because he was a Zuma.”
In 2013, Zuma was asked in parliament about his relationship with the Guptas and he responded by saying: “Every human being has a right to have friends … We are not in the state that bans people because they have friends with others.”
Zuma attended the meeting along with ANC treasurer general Zweli Mkhize and deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte. The alliance leaders confronted Zuma after an alliance secretariat had presented a report on resolutions of last year’s national alliance summit.
The discussion happened on the day the Sunday Times, following on a similar report by the Financial Times, reported on how the Gupta family contacted Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas and offered him former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene’s position.
The Guptas have denied that they invited Jonas to such a meeting. Sources said Ndamase made reference to the Sunday Times report, saying they were painting the ANC in a very bad light.
“But the president made it clear that he had no business dealings with the Guptas except the fact that his son was in their employ and their business partner since then,” another source said.
The SA Communist Party leader Xolile Nqatha and the ANC’s Oscar Mabuyane confirmed the discussion on the Guptas in the meeting.
The SACP is now calling for a policy to guide how families of politicians should relate with business people. “Once we take a responsibility to lead the people you can’t exercise your rights like all citizens. That decision poses limitations in itself. We are in agreement that we need to regulate that space. We remain concerned about this issue as a party because it does not help the standing of the movement going forward, ” Nqatha said.
SA National Civic Organ- isation PEC member Mlandeli Gxaba yesterday confirmed the frank discussions were held behind closed doors. Since Zuma came to power the Guptas have enjoyed unprecedented corporate power, clinching lucrative deals with state companies.
They are also alleged to have influenced Zuma’s cabinet appointments.
Meanwhile, during an ANC breakfast meeting in Johan- nesburg on local government yesterday, policy head Jeff Radebe was asked how the ANC would deal with the new allegations about the Guptas.
He said ANC officials held a meeting with the family two weeks ago about some reported allegations and maybe during the executive committee meeting over the weekend, would present them with a report.