SOUTH AFRICA: Guptas aren’t the only ones - Ramaphosa

Johannesburg – The Guptas aren’t the only ones trying to exert their control over the state, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday night.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa (Lizeka Tandwa, News24)

“It is not only [the Gupta family]. It is others as well,” Ramaphosa said during an ANC summit for academics and businesses.

He said the party had set up a “structure” to deal with the matter of state capture and that people are already “streaming in”.

"That structure has already started work. It is lodged in the office of the ANC secretary general on the 6th floor of Luthuli House.”

The deputy president had firm words for anyone trying to wield its influence over the ANC, saying the party is not for sale.

His statement comes after questions arose about President Jacob Zuma's close relationship with the Gupta family last week. The wealthy family had reportedly exercised undue influence by offering senior ANC members Cabinet posts.

However, said Ramaphosa, ANC members who claim to have been approached with such offers must present concrete evidence.

He said the party's national executive committee would then debate the evidence, address the allegations and move forward.

The ANC NEC met last weekend after Deputy Minister of Finance Mcebisi Jonas made the shocking announcement that he had been offered the top job in the ministry shortly before the then minister of finance Nhlanhla Nene was given the boot.

Another ANC member, former MP Vytjie Mentor, had earlier made claims that she had also been approached by the Gupta family to take over the public enterprises ministry just days before then minister in the department Barbara Hogan was axed.

ANC Gauteng chairperson Paul Mashatile, who was also at the summit, said the party had discussed allegations against the Gupta family at length. The NEC sat for two days discussing the Gupta situation and state capture, he said.

News24