I beg your forgiveness, Nhlanhla Nene asks of South Africans after Gupta meeting disclosures
“I was wrong in meeting the Guptas at their residence and not in my office or at least a public place,” Nene said in a statement on Friday
Finance minister Nhlanhla Nene has begged for forgiveness from South Africans after it emerged this week that he had met the controversial Gupta family. Nene told the commission of inquiry into state capture on Wednesday that he visited Gupta offices in Midrand and their home in Saxonwold, Johannesburg between 2010 and 2014 — when he was deputy finance minister and eventually minister. “Part of my duty as a public office bearer is to meet fellow South Africans and other stakeholders when they request to do so. However, I was wrong in meeting the Guptas at their residence and not in my office or at least a public place," Nene said in a statement on Friday, addressed to "fellow South Africans”. “I say this being mindful of the fact that it is quite common practice, not only in SA but globally, for public office bearers to attend gatherings, including dinners, at residences of business people, fellow politicians and other stakeholders.” He said the context around the meetings mattered,...
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