Duduzane denies Jonas bribe claim

Former president Jacob Zuma’s son, Duduzane, has denied any knowledge of the alleged offer of a job and a R600 million bribe made to former finance minister Mcebisi Jonas at the Gupta family’s Saxonwold compound three years ago.

While the younger Zuma conceded he met Jonas on the day at a Rosebank hotel and then moved to Saxonwold, he denied that Ajay Gupta was part of the meeting that included businessman Fana Hlongwane.

Zuma submitted an affidavit to the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture as part of his application to cross-examine witnesses. He said his interactions with Jonas began when he invited him to the Gupta family’s event – the South African of the Year, which Jonas did not attend.

Hlongwane, whom Zuma regarded as “an uncle”, was rumoured to have been “blackmailed” by Jonas and that is how the Saxonwold meeting came about, according to the affidavit.

“When these [blackmail] rumours started to surface, Mr Hlongwane, in discussion with me, decided to set up a meeting with Mr Jonas to clear it up as Mr Jonas wanted to know from me directly where these rumours came from. A meeting was arranged for October 23 2015 at the Hyatt Hotel in Rosebank at about 1pm.”

He said when he was at the hotel, Hlongwane called him and requested the meeting be moved to a private venue – the Guptas’ Saxonwold compound. “As a consequence, Mr Jonas requested to rather travel with me in my car, leaving his bodyguards behind at the hotel. I point out that at no stage, since the suggestion was made that the meeting be moved to the Gupta residence, did Mr Jonas either object thereto or express any reservations or any discomfort.”

When they got to the Gupta residence, Hlongwane arrived. The meeting took place in a lounge and Duduzane said he was an observer as Jonas and Hlongwane spoke to each other. Ajay Gupta then called Duduzane out of the room to ascertain whether the former president’s son would be available for a meeting the following day.

From his observation of the meeting between Jonas and Hlongwane, the two resolved their issues, he added. There was no discussion on a looming Cabinet reshuffle in which Nhlanhla Nene would be fired, nor the alleged ministerial post and bribe offer to Jonas, said Zuma. He added that Ajay Gupta was not part of the meeting. In his own affidavit, Ajay denied meeting Jonas.

Last month, Jonas told the commission that Gupta was part of the conversation and had told him that Nene would be fired and Jonas would get the post if he agreed. Gupta offered him R600 million to “stash in any account” or bank in Dubai. – ANA