Guptas control individuals, not ANC - Mantashe

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe.

Published Jan 11, 2016

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Cape Town - The Guptas have not taken control of the ANC, but have “captured” individuals in the party, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe has said.

“They [the Guptas] would not have any influence on the ANC. They would have relations with individuals in the ANC. That does not give them influence over the ANC,” Mantashe was quoted as saying in an interview with the Sowetan newspaper.

He did not name the “captured” individuals, but warned that the influence of business was a serious threat to the ANC.

Mantashe reportedly said the problem was not the businesspeople but with ANC members who allowed businesspeople to use them.

“...I don’t blame the corporation that captured you. Actually I must focus on dealing with you as a proxy,” he said.

President Jacob Zuma has long been criticised for his questionable relationship with the powerful Gupta family, owners of The New Age newspaper and television station ANN7.

In August, officials hired a jet owned by the Gupta family for deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, allegedly without his knowing its origins, sparking an outcry.

The controversy followed another incident in 2013 when a private plane transporting a wedding party for the Gupta family was allowed to land at the Waterkloof Air Force Base - with government denying that it was responsible, blaming an Indian diplomat for bypassing proper channels and misrepresenting the purpose of the flight.

IOL and ANA

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