adminSOUTH Africa’s Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas said he could no longer remain quiet about the Gupta family offering him the top job in the ministry.
Jonas yesterday confirmed he was offered the job of finance minister before Nhlanhla Nene was removed.
Jonas is the second sitting Cabinet official after the Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula to reveal they were contacted by the Guptas for a job as Minister instead of by President Zuma.
“We can’t afford to ignore the obvious impact these sentiments may have on our country and the resultant potential of undermining our moral authority. Neither can we afford to allow the attempts to capture the state to divert us from dealing with the challenges that our country faces,” said Jonas.
“History will judge us on the extent to which we have stayed true to the commitments we have made to our people through our public pronouncements and private conduct.”
Reports surfaced at the weekend that Jonas was called to a meeting with the Guptas and offered the job two weeks before Nene was removed.
The Sunday Times also reported that President Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane was at the meeting at a Sandton hotel in November. The newspaper further alleged that ANC deputy secretary general Jessie Duarte had offered Jonas the position a few days later.
The Gupta family has denied it offered Jonas the job.
However, Jonas yesterday confirmed it was the politically-connected family who offered him the position.
“Members of the Gupta family offered me the position of Minister of Finance to replace then-Minister Nene,” he said.
“I rejected this out of hand. The basis of my rejection of their offer is that it makes a mockery of our hard earned democracy, the trust of our people and no one apart from the President of the Republic appoints ministers.”
Jonas said he wanted to place on record that he did not have any discussion with Duarte about the finance minister job.
“I am committed to good governance, abiding by the constitution of our country and being accountable to our people who repeatedly express their confidence and trust in us, election after election.” – Reuters
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