Mngxitama slams ‘rubbish’ report that he asked Guptas for funding

'The invention of fake emails is part of the strategy to force the attention of the nation away from the proven corruption at Treasury.'

Andile Mngxitama addresses the other members of the Black First Land First movement outside the entrance to the public protector office premises after they marched from the University of Pretoria, 6 October 2016, Pretoria. Picture: Jacques Nelles

The media has attempted to divert attention from the corruption that happened at National Treasury under former finance minister Pravin Gordhan by running a propaganda campaign, says the BLF’s leader Andile Mngxitama.

Leaked emails have suggested that Mngxitama requested funding from the Guptas last year.

The emails were circulated between former Oakbay CEO Nazeem Howa and Gupta brothers Tony and Atul. Mngxitama is said to have met with Howa and made his request for funding known.

But Mngxitama has since slammed the reports, calling the emails “fake”. He released a statement on his website, claiming the emails were part of a conspiracy to detract attention from Gordhan’s alleged looting of R4.3 billion for the benefit of white monopoly capital.

“The reason why white monopoly capital and its media are running a propaganda campaign against BLF is to try and divert attention from the R4.3 billion corruption that happened in Treasury under the former minister of finance, Pravin Gordhan.

“The invention of fake emails is part of the strategy to force the attention of the nation away from the proven corruption at Treasury and to find easy diversions through gossip and fake news production,” he said.

The Guptas also called the emails a plot to spread fake news. They are considering laying criminal charges after thousands of emails were leaked last week.

See the email correspondence below:

Andile Mngxitama Gupta email by Bruce Gorton on Scribd

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