The admission by former sports minister Fikile Mbalula that the Guptas had informed him of his promotion to the cabinet was the first real evidence that former president Jacob Zuma had abdicated his powers, former finance minister Trevor Manuel said on Thursday. The chairman of insurance giant Old Mutual told the Zondo commission into state capture that up to that point the influence of the family, friends of Zuma and business associates of his son, had been a subject of speculation and even "banter". Manuel was the country’s longest-serving finance minister under four presidents: Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Motlanthe and Zuma. If you are already a subscriber, please click on the following link to go to the full article: Zuma ceded his power to Guptas, says Manuel If you would like to subscribe to BusinessLIVE to read the full story, please click here.

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