Minister stands by bank probe
ZWANE DEFIANT IN DEFENCE OF THE GUPTAS
ANC DUCKS AS PRESSURE MOUNTS FOR ZUMA TO ACT AGAINST HIM
‘CABINET DISCUSSIONS STAY THERE’
THE ANC yesterday would not answer questions about the continued open defiance of Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane, who stood by his comments that banks could not be allowed to close accounts of clients.
Yesterday, he caused outrage in parliament when he deliberately avoided answering questions about why he lied in a statement that cabinet wanted President Jacob Zuma to set up a judicial commission to probe banks.
On Friday, Zwane claimed cabinet had recommended that Zuma should set up a judicial commission to investigate banks. He said the banks – Standard Bank, FNB, Nedbank and Absa – were a monopoly and crowding out possible competition.
Zwane was forced to retract his statement after the Presidency distanced itself from his comments and confirmed that cabinet did not take such a decision.
The ANC called for action against Zwane, saying his actions were appalling and outrageous.
Zwane was part of an inter-ministerial committee that was looking into why banks blacklisted the Guptas. In parliament yesterday, all Zwane would say is that he could speak out of cabinet.
Zwane read a prepared answer which focused on the separation of powers, stating that the issue belonged within the purview of cabinet. “Discussions of cabinet stay in cabinet. Only the president can decide on a judicial commission,” said Zwane.
Zwane then went on the attack, claiming that banks should not be allowed to unilaterally close accounts because the poor suffered as a result of such decisions by the banks.
His answer received very slight applause from the ANC benches.
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe referred questions to the Presidency.
“The ANC outlined its views, but we can’t be running the cabinet… The ANC made it clear that action should be taken by the relevant authorities cabinet, or president as leader of cabinet,” Mantashe insisted yesterday.
Presidency spokesman Bongani Ngqulunga said he could not comment as he was still in China.
National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete was taken to task by the opposition for not calling Zwane to order for avoiding the question. But she was unperturbed, despite being called biased and disgraceful by DA chief whip John Steenhuisen, who reminded her of how many court cases she has lost in this regard already.
“You are letting the minister off the hook! You lose in court all the time because you act like this!” charged Steenhuisen.
IFP chief whip Narend Singh then asked Zwane about his alleged role in favouring the Gupta family in a dairy project outside Vrede in the Free State.
Singh also asked Zwane about allowing guests of the Gupta family wedding to land at Waterkloof Air Force Base, and whether these were returned favours.
Zuma is expected back in the country this morning from China where he was attending the meeting of G20 leaders.