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| 32 Pages | Edition : S1-NC (05)Friday, 18 March 2016 Vol. V No. 055 | Outside RSA US$2.50 Limited Countries | www.thenewage.co.za

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Zuma stands firm on all Cabinet appointments to dateDENNIS CRUYWAGEN AND

PETER RAMOTHWALA

HE AND he alone appoints minis-ters and deputy ministers as well as remove or fire them. No minister has been appointed by the Gupta family, a defiant President Jacob Zuma told Parliament yesterday.

Zuma was quizzed about his relation-ship with the Gupta family. On allega-tions about the family’s involvement in

ministerial appointments, Zuma said these questions should be put to them.

Zuma told DA leader Mmusi Maimane that the appointment and removal of Cabinet members were dealt with in terms of the Constitution.

“The Constitution does not require me to consult anyone before I appoint or remove a minister or deputy minister,” he said. He wanted to know if the presi-dent was willing to take accountability and resign.

Laughing, Zuma said: “I appointed Jonas as the deputy minister. That’s what I offered (Deputy Minister of Finance Mcebisi) Jonas. I never offered Jonas minister. If Jonas says he was offered by the Guptas, I think you’ll be well placed to ask Jonas or the Guptas.

I have no business with that. Don’t ask me. I am in charge of the government. I appoint in terms of the Constitution.

“There is no minister who is here who was appointed by the Guptas. Ministers who are here were appointed by me.”

The reasons for Nhlanhla Nene’s redeployment, Zuma said, were to do with the government. But once he had been removed he had to be replaced.

“I did that. If there can be any influ-ence in how government does things that can only be the ruling party.”

The furore over the Jonas-Gupta saga continued unabated yesterday.

“If he had felt it was important for him to join the Gupta chorus he would have done so a long time ago,” Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula said.

Mbalula was asked about allegations that the Gupta family had informed him about his pending ministerial appoint-ment at a briefing yesterday.

At first he said he was not going to answer the question because it was not a sports-related one.

“We are not governed by the Guptas, we are not run by Guptas. We are not here for the Guptas – we are here for sport. If you want to ask me a ques-tion, ask me out of this particular press conference,” Mbalula said.

“And the fact of the matter is I owe nobody any explanation. The onus is on those who make such allegations. I’m not going to join the chorus of which I don’t know who is the conductor. I’m in charge of my own destination and I

don’t just dance to music that I’ve never composed. I compose my own sounds,”

He said Fikile Mbalula, minister of the ANC, was appointed by Jacob Zuma, seconded by the ANC.

“Those who’ve composed the chorus, let them dance to it. I don’t dance to that tune. If I felt it’s important for me to join the chorus I would have done that. I never felt my reputation is at stake at any given time,” Mbalula said.

The ANC Women’s League denounced the use of the media by senior party members on the matter.

“We think these allegations are seri-ous; they provide an opportunity for the organisation to take leadership and guide how the matters need to be handled and also deal head on with the

root issues,” it said. “The seriousness of these allega-

tions stand to threaten the integrity of the ANC as a governing party and its deployment processes even in the future. We implore the NEC to give proper guidance and engage properly with the affected parties and take lead-ership of the alliance and society, not the other way around,” it said.

The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) came out strongly in support of Zuma.

The ANCYL called for the immediate resignation of Jonas. Speaking in Kim-berley, ANCWL spokesperson Mlondi Mkhize said they would call for Jonas’s head at the ANC NEC meeting at the weekend.

peterr@thenewage.co.za

Oakbay, Guptas release details of meeting with ANC top brass TNA REPORTER

OAKBAY Investments, the holding com-pany of the Gupta family’s businesses, today released the details of a meeting with ANC officials on February 15 at Luthuli House in full page advertise-ments.

The ANC at the meeting was repre-sented by President Jacob Zuma, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, chairper-

son Baleka Mbete, secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, deputy secretary-gen-eral Jessie Duarte and treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize. Oakbay was represented by group CEO Nazeem Howa, share-holders Ajay Gupta, Duduzane Zuma and Moegsien Williams, editor-in-chief of The New Age and ANN7.

Howa said last night the docu-ment was being released after per-sistent requests from the media for

details of the meeting.“Also, we want to remove the miscon-

ceptions, misrepresentations and delib-erate lies being purveyed by others about the company, the Gupta family and the friendship with Zuma,” he said.

“The facts released will show the con-tradiction between the claims that we exercise huge influence over the govern-ment and the small amount of business we conduct with government agencies.”

Howa said the Oakbay delegation also dealt with the claim that the Guptas “appointed” Cabinet members and the lies and myths surrounding it.

Ajay Gupta related how the Fikile Mbalula “urban legend” originated.

Gupta said: “I read a speculative report in a weekend newspaper that Fikile is being named as a possible min-ister. When I bumped into him a few days later I jokingly congratulated him

on his possible appointment. Fikile then tweeted that he was told by a Gupta that he is heading for the Cabinet.”

Howa said that’s how the urban leg-end started. The story appeared in the Weekend Argus in October 24, 2010.

“We stated very strongly that we are not interested in politics or meddling in it. We simply wanted to grow our busi-nesses to employ more and more South Africans,” Howa said.

The Oakbay team also provided evi-dence to the top six of the group’s busi-ness dealings with the government.

“Our last audited financial statements show that only have 1% of business com-ing from government despite the stories pedalled by competitor media. On coal supply, we have under 1% of the supply to Eskom. If the Optimum deal closes this will move to about 5%,” Howa said.

See pages 8 and 9

Zuma forces strike backTNA REPORTERS

THE supporters of President Jacob Zuma are poised to strike back at this weekend’s ANC national executive com-mittee (NEC) meeting starting today near Tshwane.

Battle lines have been drawn over persistent attacks on Zuma as president from within the party and some alliance partners.

Sources confirmed that the Zuma camp, including a grouping known as the Premier League, met last weekend to discuss plans and a strategy to coun-ter the #Zumamustfall brigade.

“We know they will use the controver-sies surrounding the Gupta family as a means to get to Zuma who will, in his president’s political overview, address all the issues up front.”

A Zuma supporter, who will be at the NEC meeting, said his (Zuma’s) detrac-tors would either have to “shut up or speak up”.

“We know they don’t have the cour-age,” the source said.

Everything points to the ANC’s elec-tive conference in December 2017.

Predictions of a straight fight between incumbent Deputy Presi-dent Cyril Ramaphosa and African Union Commission (AUC) chairper-son Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma for the top position is now in tatters, sources

told The New Age.The sources in the ruling party’s lead-

ership told The New Age that “while a few months ago the Ramaphosa versus Dlamini Zuma contestation for the top post was a cut and dried affair, recent developments have changed the picture dramatically”.

And the constantly changing loyal-ties between the rival ANC factions are causing its own pressures on the

succession race.According to one source, escalating

tensions and mistrust between Zuma, his deputy, Ramaphosa and secretary-general Gwede Mantashe have resulted in a situation where senior leadership figures are now forced to take sides in the succession battle.

“His firing of Nhlanhla Nene was his way of sending a clear signal to his com-rades that he is in charge.”

The row over deputy minister Mcebisi Jonas’ statement on Wednesday that the Gupta family met with him and offered him the finance ministry post has fur-ther muddied the waters.

Today, the ANC Youth League and the chairperson of MKMVA Kebby Maphatsoe both came out with guns blazing, attacking Jonas and calling into question motives for his revelation just ahead of the ANC NEC.

Another source said that the suc-cession issue is further complicated by a growing doubt about the fitness of Dlamini Zuma.

While Zuma will be seen as a “king-maker”, his backers won’t commit on pledging support for Dlamini Zuma now.

Further compounding the succession battle, is increasing dissent against the leadership of Zuma. According to these sources senior leaders within the party are of the view that Zuma is “now a serious liability” and the various con-troversies that continue to swirl over his head are costing the party dearly.

But his backers are ready to take on the detractors. As The New Age reported yesterday, the first salvo could be a motion to suspend deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte.

According to our sources, the move to suspend Duarte is being used as a dry run for another motion later that will push for the recall of President Jacob Zuma.

Well-placed sources have also con-firmed that Zuma loyalists are deter-mined to rebuff the attack on Duarte, which many are seeing as a direct attack on the president.

The sources also named NEC mem-bers and former Zuma loyalists includ-ing Aaron Motsoaledi, Joe Phaahla, Lindiwe Zulu, Zizi Kodwa, Naledi Pandor, Nomvula Mokanyane and Jeff Radebe who have voiced their concerns

about Zuma’s leadership.“They believe that time is now ripe to

set in motion a challenge to the presi-dent’s leadership. They need Zuma out of the way before December 2017. They are acutely aware that support for the president could dent their own ambitions ahead of the 2017 conference.”

The emergence of Jeff Radebe as a potential successor to Zuma has fur-ther clouded the succession debate, the sources said.

According to these sources, the SA Communist Party (SACP) has also turned its back on Zuma and has “thrown in its lot with Ramaphosa and Mantashe”.

“Ahead of 2017, the ANC and the Alliance needs sober thinking. Recent developments are the clearest indication that there is no clear successor to the president. A consolidated plan of action is required to prevent any further dam-age to our movement,” the sources said.

“The Premier League is urging the president to take the gloves off. Their view is that the ANC cannot sit back and watch its leader being denigrated by those with ulterior motives,” the sources said.

The sources also said that the Pre-mier League resolved at their meeting that “they will hold firm in face of the present onslaught”.

See pages 8, 9, 17, 18

BATTLE LINES ARE DRAWN BETWEEN PRESIDENT’S BACKERS AND DETRACTORS

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IN CHARGE: North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo, ANC President Jacob Zuma and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Royal Bafokeng stadium, Phokeng for the ANC 104th anniversary rally. PICTURE: ROBERT TLAPU