{"id":117172,"date":"2016-03-17T09:54:47","date_gmt":"2016-03-17T07:54:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=117172"},"modified":"2016-03-17T12:55:13","modified_gmt":"2016-03-17T10:55:13","slug":"watch-gupta-media-reveals-anti-zuma-plot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/government\/117172\/watch-gupta-media-reveals-anti-zuma-plot\/","title":{"rendered":"Watch: Gupta media reveals “anti-Zuma plot”"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Gupta-owned New Age newspaper has reportedly uncovered a political plot against president Jacob Zuma, in which a faction within the ANC\u00a0has turned against him.<\/p>\n

The newspaper cited “top ANC sources” suggesting that there is a faction within the party that is planning to recall Zuma, and will likely do a “test run” at the National Executive Committee meeting this coming weekend.<\/p>\n

According to the report, the faction will attempt to get to Zuma through Jesse Duarte<\/a>, who is seen as his closest ally.<\/p>\n

The report follows revelations by deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas that he was offered the position of finance minister by the politically connected Gupta family.<\/p>\n

Read:\u00a0\u201cGuptas did offer me the job of Finance Minister\u201d: Jonas<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Guptas are closely linked to president Zuma, and have a well-established business relationship with Zuma’s son, Duduzane.<\/p>\n

The Guptas have been widely accused of trying to capture the state through their relationships with senior officials, and Jonas’ revelations go a long way to corroborate these claims.<\/p>\n

However, according to the Guptas’ media companies, Jonas’ revelations – which it says are yet to be proven true – are part of an “anti-Zuma plot”, and it provided a blow-by-blow of how the first stages of this plot would play out at the NEC meet, according to “reliable party sources”:<\/p>\n

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  1. Ex-ANC Woman’s League secretary general will likely move to suspend Jessie Duarte and the NEC meeting.<\/li>\n
  2. The “Anti-Zuma” faction will demand that Duarte clears her name before the ANC Integrity Committee.<\/li>\n
  3. The issue of Duarte’s son-in-law getting a job with the department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (under David van Rooyen) will be raised.<\/li>\n
  4. The Anti-Zuma faction will be testing its strength through Duarte’s suspension.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The faction will then allegedly move to recall Zuma – first by isolating Zuma through Duarte’s suspension, The New Age claims.\u00a0The report says that Jonas’ revelations are part of the wider plot to get rid of Jacob Zuma – and that Duarte and the Guptas are proxies in a “dirty war” to seize control.<\/p>\n

    Read:\u00a0ANC MPs turn on the Guptas<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

    According to the report, Zuma is aware of this plot and the “false narrative” being painted, and is ready to fight back with a report on his ties to the Gupta family.<\/p>\n

    The Guptas have maintained their innocence throughout the saga, and have called on Jonas to provide proof to back up his allegations.<\/p>\n

    A full report on the alleged “Zuma must fall plot” can be read in The New Age. Below is a video report compiled by ANN7, along with commentary from The New Age’s political editor, Ricky Naidoo.<\/p>\n