Johannesburg – The ex-boss of South Africa’s state power firm Zola Tsotsi on Friday became the latest figure to accuse a business family with ties to President Jacob Zuma of wielding undue influence, as the leadership of the ruling ANC met to discuss its most serious crisis in nearly a decade.
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Tsotsi, who resigned a year ago as chairman of Eskom, said that his exit had been orchestrated by the Guptas, who were accused this week of offering cabinet posts to two African National Congress (ANC) politicians.
“Two months after the appointment, they called me and said they will have me fired because I am not playing the game. I was forced to resign shortly after that,” Tsotsi told the weekly.
Pressure has been mounting on Zuma since Deputy Finance Minister, Mcebisi Jonas, said on Wednesday that he had been offered the minister’s post by members of Gupta family last year, shortly before Zuma fired the respected Nhlanhla Nene.
The Guptas, a family of Indian-born businessmen who moved to South Africa in the early 1990s, have denied trying to influence political appointments, saying they are the victims of a plot.
“We play no role in the hiring and firing of anyone outside of our own business.
“These allegations are nothing more than political gossip and innuendo,” said Nazeem Howa, CEO of Oakbay Investments, part of the Gupta business empire.
The affair has added to investors’ nervousness about South Africa’s stability and governance, contributing to wild swings in the value of the rand.
Investigators also discovered a flag for the Islamic State extremist group in the apartment, as well as a large amount of ammunition. (Reuters/NAN)