Lindiwe Sisulu denies accepting invitation to meet Guptas

African National Congress presidential hopeful Lindiwe Sisulu has reportedly denied reports that she had accepted an invitation to meet with the controversial Gupta family in 2015.

According to the latest leaked Gupta emails, Sisulu’s name appears on a list of senior government officials who had allegedly accepted an invitation by the Guptas, EWN reported on Tuesday.

A screengrab of the email, allegedly sent by former Oakbay Investments CEO Nazeem Howa to Atul Gupta, apparently shows a list of government officials who were invited and accepted an invitation by the family, associates of President Jacob Zuma.

EWN reported the list confirmed the attendance of Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane, ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte, former energy minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson, Police Minister Fikile Mbalula, Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba, deputy traditional affairs minister Obed Bapela, Minister of Public Service and Administration Faith Muthambi and Sisulu, among others.

The list apparently also included ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, and the parentheses next to his name stated that he would try very hard to attend.

Sisulu’s spokesperson, Vusi Tshose, said the minister had never accepted or even attended any event of the Guptas. He said the email was sinister and an obvious smear campaign to discredit Sisulu.

“We just want to place it on record that there is no such, and the minister has never been in a situation where she accepted any invitation from the family. She also never attended any event related to the family,” said Tshose.

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