Zuma’s cabinet tried to conceal nuclear costs
Pravin Gordhan submits declassified documents to commission of inquiry into state capture as proof
Declassified cabinet minutes show that Jacob Zuma’s government decided to keep the costs of the proposed nuclear deal with Russia secret until it was done and dusted, and the procurement process completed. The minutes are part of evidence public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan submitted to the commission of inquiry into state capture last week. They deal with the cabinet meeting of December 9 2015, at which the programme was approved. The nuclear build was a pet project of the former president, who after the meeting fired finance minister Nhlanhla Nene for refusing to back it. Zuma also had energy minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson sign an intergovernmental agreement with Russia in which SA agreed that the latter would build the plants. A memorandum attached to the minutes, and prepared by department of energy deputy director-general Zizamele Mbambo, also shows that the project would cost more than the R500bn he had estimated publicly. Excluding financing, the cost would range betw...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.