Mzwanele Manyi says he wants to cure SA of ‘Guptaphobia’

Controversial businessman and president of the Progressive Professionals’ Forum (PPF) Mzwanele ‘Jimmy’ Manyi reportedly wants to cure the country of an “ailment” he has apparently diagnosed as “Guptaphobia”.

In an interview with The Times this week, Manyi – who is a known supporter of President Jacob Zuma and the Gupta family – shared some of his reasons why he was such a staunch advocate against the notion of “white monopoly capital” and his backing for “radical economic transformation” as promulgated by the ruling ANC.

On the Gupta family

He told the paper the Gupta family, which is accused of “state capture” allegations due to their close relationship to the Zuma family, were “getting a raw deal in South Africa”, as they had not been found guilty of the allegations levelled against them by a court of law.

He said their real crime was to disrupt the interests of white monopoly capital.

“I am not Guptaphobic, and I would like people to be cured of that disease,” Manyi said.

SA’s downgrading to junk investment status

Manyi acknowledged that the country’s downgrading to junk status by S&P Global and Fitch Ratings earlier this month following Zuma’s Cabinet reshuffle was “not good”. But he said there was an “overreaction” to the downgrading.

Zuma’s Cabinet shakeup

He said he was excited to hear Zuma had effected changes to his executive team, which saw Pravin Gordhan and Mcebisi Jonas fired from National Treasury, saying the country needed radical changes to ensure that it had an economy that was inclusive of the black majority.

On the Fica bill

Manyi said the PPF was opposed to the Financial Intelligence Centre Amendment Bill because SA had adequate laws that dealt with criminal activities regarding money laundering and the funding of terrorism.

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