Zola Tsotsi, who resigned a year ago as chairman of Eskom, told the Mail & Guardian newspaper his exit had been orchestrated by the Guptas, who were accused this week of offering cabinet posts to two ANC politicians.
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“These latest allegations are just more political point-scoring between rival factions within the ANC”, it said, adding that “any suggestion that the Gupta family or any of our representatives or associates have offered anyone a job in government is totally false”.
“There was that thing that they want to recall the president”. The family of Indian-born businessmen who moved to South Africa in the early 1990s, says it is the victim of a plot to oust Zuma.
Nene’s sacking sent South Africa’s rand currency down almost 10 percent in December.
Zuma has so far insisted his ties with the Gupta family are above board, but investors fear further political uncertainty could hasten a credit ratings downgrade, potentially into “junk” territory, and sharply raise South Africa’s borrowing costs. “We are beginning to wonder whether those who say it is not true are themselves being genuine”, Phosa told Talk Radio 702.
Members of his own ruling party, the African National Congress, have come forward in recent days claiming that members of the Gupta family offered them top government positions on the condition that they act to advance its commercial interests.
Mentor’s utterances have led to several ANC members speaking out on similar encounters with the Guptas, including Deputy Finance Minister, Mcebisi Jonas, Public Service and Administration Minister, Ngoako Ramathlodi and former Public Enterprises Minister, Barbara Hogan.
ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe said on Thursday that the party had not discussed whether or not to remove Zuma.
The president batted away the allegations, telling the DA leader: “I think you would be well placed to ask the Guptas, or Jonas”.
The allegations against the Guptas have fed into wider worries about corruption in South Africa, stirring debate about whether Zuma can ride out the scandal or will face increasing calls to resign as the government struggles to attract investment.
The opposition Democratic Alliance on Friday had also submitted a formal request to the Public Protector to probe President Jacob Zuma over claims that the Gupta family influenced Cabinet appointments and pressed ministers for business favours.
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A group of Catholic priests and brothers in Southern Africa, known as the Dominican Order, also requested the Public Protector to conduct a systemic investigation into the alleged involvement of the Gupta family in South African state affairs and the award of contracts to companies linked to the family.
