POINT OF ORDER
Report shows devil hides in the details
The state capture report also reveals how the Guptas threatened Mcebisi Jonas and his ’faction’ — Gwede Mantashe and Zweli Mkhize, writes Tim Cohen
There is a theory going around in journalistic circles that the public protector’s state capture report doesn’t tell us much more than careful followers of the media already know. This theory is based on the observation that the key incidents in the report actually follow from newspaper articles, particularly those regarding Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas, former MP Vytjie Mentor, former Government Communication and Information System CEO Themba Maseko and the Optimum coal mine. I don’t think this is true at all, partly because the report finds corroborating evidence, but also because the devil is in the detail. And the report brings many devils to light. Take the example of the alleged offer by Ajay Gupta of the position of finance minister to Jonas. The story was originally broken by the Financial Times and it was subsequently confirmed by Jonas himself in March. What we knew before the report was published was that Jonas was offered the position, that he rejected the idea ...
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