Montana vs Vavi: ‘He asked me to employ two of his cousins at Prasa’

The drama started when Vavi took to Twitter on Wednesday and posted a video of an interview Montana had with ANN7 in 2016, in which he defended the Guptas and said he didn’t believe in “the notion of state capture and it does not exist”.

On Tuesday, Montana sang a totally different tune during his appearance before the parliamentary inquiry into state-owned enterprises, which was in stark contrast to his ANN7 interview.

He dropped a bombshell at the inquiry and alleged that – among other damning claims – the Guptas tried to dissolve the Prasa board in September 2012 and that former ANC treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize attempted to bribe him into paying 10% of the R465 million that was due to Swifambo Rail Leasing.

In a series of tweets on Thursday morning, Montana accused Vavi of having short-term memory and being a “political opportunist”. He tweeted: “In 2012, I personally briefed him [Vavi] at his house about the Guptas and their criminal conduct. Exactly what I said in my testimony in 2018 [Tuesday].”

However, what was most shocking were Montana’s claims that at the end of their meeting, Vavi asked him to “employ two of his cousins who were in the rural areas”.

https://twitter.com/MontanaLucky/status/958957621003866112

Vavi hit back at the former Prasa CEO and challenged him to explain why he changed his tune during the ANN7 interview. He accused him of being “desperate to get even” with him by claiming that he wanted Montana to give jobs to his relatives.

Exactly! Why did you turn against what you told me in this interview with AAN7 in 2016? What you told parliament is exactly what you told me in 2012? Why change that story in this clip? Why? https://t.co/hjoWCk5WyX

— Zwelinzima Vavi (@Zwelinzima1) February 1, 2018

He is just desperate to get even with me! Where are the cousins he employed on my request?

— Zwelinzima Vavi (@Zwelinzima1) February 1, 2018

That’s not true! He has no idea that I have no single cousin at a working age! The youngest we buried in December was born in 1948!! It’s a desperate attempt to divert attention away from his mantashing everytime it suits his agendas! https://t.co/XO69gVdC6b

— Zwelinzima Vavi (@Zwelinzima1) February 1, 2018

For your information all my cousins are pensioners – how could I get them employed when they are not even on a working age? That’s not true! Why was he keeping quite about that all these years?

— Zwelinzima Vavi (@Zwelinzima1) February 1, 2018

Watch a clip of Montana’s interview with ANN7 below:

In case you were one of those with short memory who were singing his praises yesterday! pic.twitter.com/IKBA6R2a5W

— Zwelinzima Vavi (@Zwelinzima1) January 31, 2018

Montana also sought to clarify his views on state capture:

https://twitter.com/MontanaLucky/status/958964241553379328