News / Africa
'ANC leaders who spoke out against Guptas backed by white capitalists'
30 Mar 2016 at 19:41hrs | Views
Johannesburg - The Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans' Association (MKMVA) gave a tongue-lashing to several ANC leaders yesterday at Luthuli House, accusing them of colluding with white capitalists to oust President Jacob Zuma.
MKMVA chairperson Kebby Maphatsoe told journalists that those who had come out accusing the influential Gupta family of attempting to capture the state were in bed with the likes of billionaire businessman Johann Rupert.
"You would have observed that it started as just a small thing, the Guptas have captured the state.
"Then Mcebisi Jonas [Deputy Finance Minister] coming out and Vytjie Mentor [former ANC MP] and many, many more have come out, and we are not surprised Ronald Lamola came out at the NEC meeting.
"What a coincidence. It shows there was plan by these people, including Rupert. Now that we know who (is) supporting these people who want regime change in South Africa," Maphatsoe said.
Jonas and Mentor made shocking revelations earlier this month, claiming the Guptas had allegedly offered them ministerial positions.
Meanwhile, we have been proudly and confidently doing business with the Gupta family, Maphatsoe said yesterday.
Maphatsoe said they had had extensive business relations with the Gupta family.
He said they appreciated the voluntary business relations with them.
"We're not captured and we encourage others to come and do business with us," he said.
Maphatsoe said when there were questions surrounding the Gupta-Glencore deal, the association called the Guptas and "sat down with them".
He said they were satisfied with their explanation. He said the only reason there was a "revolt" against them was because they were stepping into white business territory. "When companies, especially the blacks . . . want to touch into this area . . . there will be revolt.
This thing of seeing a revolution against the Guptas is because they are touching a nerve to say it's not business as usual," he said.
Glencore agreed to sell its Optimum coal complex to Tegeta for R2.15bn in December after the operation had gone into bankruptcy protection because it claimed it was locked into an unprofitable contract.
Tegeta is controlled by the Gupta family, whom President Zuma describes as his friends.
The Guptas are also in business with Zuma's son, Duduzane, who, according to Tegeta's share register, received a stake in Tegeta three weeks before it bought Optimum.
MKMVA chairperson Kebby Maphatsoe told journalists that those who had come out accusing the influential Gupta family of attempting to capture the state were in bed with the likes of billionaire businessman Johann Rupert.
"You would have observed that it started as just a small thing, the Guptas have captured the state.
"Then Mcebisi Jonas [Deputy Finance Minister] coming out and Vytjie Mentor [former ANC MP] and many, many more have come out, and we are not surprised Ronald Lamola came out at the NEC meeting.
"What a coincidence. It shows there was plan by these people, including Rupert. Now that we know who (is) supporting these people who want regime change in South Africa," Maphatsoe said.
Jonas and Mentor made shocking revelations earlier this month, claiming the Guptas had allegedly offered them ministerial positions.
Meanwhile, we have been proudly and confidently doing business with the Gupta family, Maphatsoe said yesterday.
Maphatsoe said they had had extensive business relations with the Gupta family.
"We're not captured and we encourage others to come and do business with us," he said.
Maphatsoe said when there were questions surrounding the Gupta-Glencore deal, the association called the Guptas and "sat down with them".
He said they were satisfied with their explanation. He said the only reason there was a "revolt" against them was because they were stepping into white business territory. "When companies, especially the blacks . . . want to touch into this area . . . there will be revolt.
This thing of seeing a revolution against the Guptas is because they are touching a nerve to say it's not business as usual," he said.
Glencore agreed to sell its Optimum coal complex to Tegeta for R2.15bn in December after the operation had gone into bankruptcy protection because it claimed it was locked into an unprofitable contract.
Tegeta is controlled by the Gupta family, whom President Zuma describes as his friends.
The Guptas are also in business with Zuma's son, Duduzane, who, according to Tegeta's share register, received a stake in Tegeta three weeks before it bought Optimum.
Source - AFP
