Ramaphosa: I never discussed anything of consequence with Guptas
President Cyril Ramaphosa has told the commission of inquiry into state capture he has not had any personal interactions with the Guptas, although has met two of the brothers at ANC events.
The information is contained in an affidavit requested by the commission’s chair, deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo. It’s the first disclosure by former and current members of the cabinet on whether they have had any relations with the Guptas or Bosasa.
He says he first met the Guptas in 2012, after the ANC's 53rd national conference in Bloemfontein during a briefing regarding the party's resolutions by the newly-elected leadership and then again at a similar event after the 2014 national elections.
"My interactions with the Gupta brothers were at events where nothing of any consequence was discussed. I never engaged with them beyond basic greetings, pleasantries, and common courtesies.”
Ramaphosa says he was at a meeting in 2016 which the Guptas requested, through the former ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe, to discuss the closure of their bank accounts.
Their controversial relationship with former president Jacob Zuma was also discussed.
"One of the issues that I raised at that meeting was the landing of 747 Jumbo Jet at the Waterkloof Airforce Base in 2013. I stated that they had, through their actions, placed the former president in an invidious position. Tony Gupta's reaction was that permission for the plane to land had to be obtained and given by the Indian High Commissioner.”
See below:
I met the Guptas on 3 or 4 occasions, admits Ramaphosa by Sine Madolo on Scribd