Magda Wierzycka questions how many other politicians met the Guptas after Nene revelation

Sygnia Group chief executive Magda Wierzycka has questioned how many South African politicians met with and did favours for the controversial Gupta family allegedly at the centre of state capture.

This after Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene’s testimony last week at the judicial commission of inquiry into allegations of state capture, corruption and fraud in the public sector, including organs of state, revealed that the minister had lied about not meeting the Guptas.

In a tweet on Monday morning, Wierzycka further questioned how many of South African politicians “are falling on their swords?”

He stood up to Zuma and stopped the nuclear deal, oh, and met the Guptas (yes, panicked and lied about it when cornered as many would). Come on, let’s get some perspective! How many other politicians met the Guptas? How many did them favors? How many are falling on their swords? https://t.co/X4wNirLyMg

— Magda Wierzycka (@Magda_Wierzycka) October 8, 2018

It was reported that former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas – who testified at the commission that one of the Gupta brothers had allegedly offered him a R600 million bribe and Nene’s position of finance minister back in 2015 – was recently appointed on to the Sygnia board.

Another user with the handle @jacquescupido12 questioned why DA Western Cape Premier Helen Zille had not been asked by her party to step down after it was revealed that she had also met the Guptas.

@helenzille was also cornered but till this day never asked by @Our_DA to resign

— Jacques Cupido (@jacquescupido12) October 8, 2018

Zille responded in her defence, claiming she had never been secretive about meeting the Guptas, whom she said she had met for fundraising purposes and had rejected granting a favour the Guptas had requested.

I was never cornered, I was open from the start, I never did them any favours at all. I met them went I went to fund-raise from Sahara Computers for the DA. Long before the Guptas became notorious. When a favour was requested I said NO.

— Helen Zille (@helenzille) October 8, 2018

Zille said the requested favour she turned down was for a blue-light convoy for the Gupta family, who were planning a trip to Cape Town at the time the favour was requested.

I have answered this question many times. They asked for a blue light convoy when planning a trip to Cape Town. I said NO.

— Helen Zille (@helenzille) October 8, 2018

In another tweet, Wierzycka suggested that all senior officials in government should be questioned on how many meetings they had had with the Guptas.

Wierzycka was responding to a post questioning why other ministers, namely Minister of Communications Nomvula Mokonyane, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba, Mineral Resources Minister and African National Congress national chairperson Gwede Mantashe and Minister for Women in the Presidency Bathabile Dlamini should not be sacked from their posts due to being implicated in state capture or not seemingly being fit to hold office.

This is a brilliant comment. Why no debates about their fitness to hold office? How many meetings with the Gupta family did each one of them attend? Maybe a public survey of all senior officials is in order? https://t.co/C9gnFUDwK8

— Magda Wierzycka (@Magda_Wierzycka) October 7, 2018

The irony of Nene’s resignation vs the retention of Malusi Gigaba, Bathabile Dlamini and Nomvula Mokonyane.

— Palesa Morudu Rosenberg (@palesa_morudu) October 8, 2018

It was reported that Nene had telephoned President Cyril Ramaphosa over the weekend to ask him to relieve him of his duties.

According to reports, Ramaphosa was never told about the seven meetings Nene had with the Guptas at their home and offices when he was previously finance minister and deputy finance minister under former president Jacob Zuma.

It was further reported that Nene’s request will be tabled for a decision by the ANC today.

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