NEWS ANALYSIS: Pravin Gordhan’s submission on Guptas shows he has nothing to hide
Public enterprises minister tells state-capture inquiry when he was in contact with family members and that he never visited the compound in Saxonwold
“I can recall one meeting where the former president introduced me to Mr Ajay Gupta,” public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan says in his statement to the Zondo commission. He says that early in his first term as finance minister he was called to Mahlamba Ndlopfu, the presidential residence in Pretoria, for a meeting with then president Jacob Zuma. “When I was called into the meeting room, former president Zuma introduced me to a man who I believe is Ajay Gupta. Mr Zuma introduced him as ‘my friend’ and told me that the man had expertise in regard to small business and finance,” Gordhan says. “I recall us exchanging generalities for a couple of minutes, but I do not recall the details of what was a very cursory exchange. Mr Gupta then excused himself and left me and the former president to continue our meeting.” In the statement to the commission investigating state capture, Gordhan also says: “I have never been to the Gupta family compound located in Saxonwold.” It is really as ...
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