Barbara Hogan did not meet the controversial Gupta family while she was serving as public enterprises minister. Hogan told the state capture inquiry on Wednesday that she had met members of the family on two occasions, once in 2004 and then again when she was no longer a minister.

She said that in 2004, Essop Pahad, in whose home Ahmed Kathrada — her partner the late struggle stalwart — had spent a lot of time as a young child, called and invited the couple to a lunch with some of his friends. Hogan said the Guptas were there, and it was the first time she got to know about them, but did not talk to them at the lunch. The next occasion was after she was fired as a minister, when she and Kathrada were invited to a lunch with the Indian high commission, to meet a cabinet minister from India. Hogan said Ajay Gupta arrived at the event and sat at a table alone. She said he seemed to be in a ‘‘filthy mood’’ and did not talk to anyone. Hogan also testified to the commission on Wedne...

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