Mbalula confirmed Gupta influence on cabinet, Zondo commission hears
The commission of inquiry into state capture heard on Thursday that former minister Fikile Mbalula was the first to confirm the Gupta family’s involvement in cabinet appointments.
Two African National Congress (ANC) veterans, Trevor Manuel and Siphiwe Nyanda, testified at the commission.
Manuel is the country’s longest-serving finance minister while Nyanda is a former communications minister and general in Umkhonto we Sizwe.
The two revealed that Mbalula, who was deputy minister of police at the time, made the revelation at an ANC national executive meeting in August 2011.
Manuel told the commission that the meeting was tense due to concerns over the growing influence of the Gupta brothers on some ANC leaders.
"What Mr. Mbalula said was that he was called to Saxonwold and there he was told that he was going to be appointed as the Minister of Sports and Recreation. He was excited at first about making it into the cabinet as this was a big promotion, but in retrospect, and this was the emotional part, it should never have been the Guptas or anybody else who told him that. It was the prerogative of the president and that had been violated.”
Nyanda said he believed the revelation was aimed at former president Jacob Zuma.
"I can't recall anyone speaking to it because it was just a direct allegation against the president of the ANC, who was sitting in the meeting. I don't know if Mbalula had spoken first or others would have said: ‘No Mr. President we want you to address this question, we just heard a serious allegation made against you.’ I think people expected the president himself to address the matter.”
Manuel suggested that there must have been some kind of relationship between the Guptas and Mbalula for them to have invited him to their home.
Nyanda also revealed that Zuma's son Duduzane introduced him to one of the Gupta brothers during his tenure as communications minister.
"It was only an introduction. I don't remember which brother it was, but they introduced themselves as the owners of Sahara Computers."
He was later told that the Guptas wanted to see him at their home in Saxonwold but he refused.
Evidence leader Leah Gcabashe read a response by Ajay Gupta, who said he merely congratulated Mbalula on his imminent promotion after reading the speculation in the media.
Both Manuel and Nyanda refuted the claim.
Manuel told the commission that the key features of state capture took place during Zuma's tenure, pointing to the drastic change and weakening of state institutions during his presidency.