Faizel Patel, 2016-03-14
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan says he has no knowledge of his Deputy Mcebisi Jonas being offered the finance minister position by the Gupta family.
He is reporting back on an overseas investor road show to the UK and US to coax investors into ploughing money into South Africa as the country faces a possible downgrade by ratings agency Moody’s.
Gordhan said his “silence tells it all” when asked if the Gupta’s offered Mcebisi Jonas the Finance Minister job.
“I have no personal knowledge of this, so there’s nothing I can tell you.”
He also denied having dinner with the Guptas.
“The answer is no. I am a very quiet person. I stick to my corner.”
The Sunday Times yesterday reported the Gupta family had met with Jonas and offered him the position with certain conditions before President Jacob Zuma fired Nhlanhla Nene.
The paper reported that African National Congress (ANC) Deputy Secretary General Jessie Duarte also offered Jonas the job.
In a statement the Treasury says it was concerning that the Sunday Times regularly relies on unnamed sources and faceless people to spread rumours and give credence to their stories.
“We challenge the Sunday Times to back up their claim and provide proof of such a source.”
The Finance Minister also weighed in on the public row between himself and SARS Commissioner Tom Moyane.
“Moyane is not a minister. There is no equality between Moyane and a minister, The President has said that he has a process to deal with this issue. So lets give this a little time.”
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