Deputy Minister Mcebisi Jonas was threatened on Wednesday by a prominent businessman as he prepared to blow the lid on the Gupta family’s role in selecting a previous finance minister.Jonas confirmed on Wednesday that he was approached by the family and offered the position before the axing of the then minister Nhlanhla Nene in December last year.While preparing a statement‚ Jonas received a text message saying: "Please keep your own counsel. Martyrdom is best left to Christ."People close to Jonas said he saw this as a threat‚ and that it was part of an attempt to prevent him from confirming his meeting with the Gupta family."Members of the Gupta family offered me the position of minister of finance to replace then minister Nene‚ I rejected this out of hand. The basis of my rejection of the offer is that it makes a mockery of our Constitution and hard-earned democracy‚" Jonas said.His disclosure lends credence to allegations that the family‚ whose members are friends of President J...
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