We need a clear statement from Pravin Gordhan about the conduct of his deputy today
14 March 2016
The Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan’s, statement on the Sunday Times’s story simply adds fuel to the fire concerning reports that Deputy Minister of Finance, Mcebisi Jonas, attended a meeting with Atul Gupta, Ajay Gupta and Duduzane Zuma, two weeks prior to the former Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene, being fired on 09 December 2015.
The Minister, most importantly, does not deny that the Deputy Minister reportedly:
met Atul Gupta, Ajay Gupta and Duduzane Zuma at a hotel in Sandton on 27 November 2015 which was arranged by an unnamed businessperson;
was offered the position of finance minister provided he supported the nuclear build programme and purged senior officials at National Treasury; and
did the right thing by leaving the meeting telling participants: “you don’t run the country.”
The Minister simply denies senior National Treasury officials were the source for the story claiming ANC Deputy Secretary General, Jesse Duarte, offered Deputy Minister Jonas the position of finance minister.
We do not know whether the story is true but the fact that the deputy minister has consistently refused to confirm or deny the reports creates the impression that the reports are true.
That is why the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordon, should use the platform provided by today’s press conference to step in and stop the bleeding by making a public statement clarifying:
whether the Deputy Minister met with Atul Gupta, Ajay Gupta and Duduzane Zuma at a hotel in Sandton on or about 27 November 2015;
whether Deputy Minister was offered the position of Finance Minister provided he supported the nuclear build programme and purged some senior officials at National Treasury; and
whether the Deputy Minister reported the meeting to any person.
Deputy Minister Jonas, should not be allowed to zig-zag his way around this issue any longer.
It’s now time for answers.
Issued by David Maynier, DA Shadow Minister of Finance, 14 March 2016
