Former government spokesperson Themba Maseko has told City Press that president Jacob Zuma punished him for spurning the Guptas by terminating his job.<\/p>\n
In an interview with the paper, Maseko said Zuma instructed late former minister in the presidency Collins Chabane to \u201credeploy me or terminate my contract\u201d following calls from a member of the Gupta family, accused of alleged state capture.<\/p>\n
Maseko said that the family wanted the R600 million government was spending on media platforms to be transferred to their companies.<\/p>\n
Maseko\u2019s allegation forms part of a submission made to a panel supported by lawyers and formed by the SA Council of Churches (SACC) to look into allegations of state capture and corruption.<\/p>\n
The SACC told City Press that it had also received submissions from deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas, who alleged that the Guptas offered him a cabinet position, while ANC MP Vytjie Mentor also made a similar allegation.<\/p>\n
Maseko said the lobbying began at a meeting at the Guptas\u2019 home in Saxonwold in October 2010, and continued as the family launched the New Age newspaper.<\/p>\n
When he did not adhere to the Gupta’s demands, one of the brothers allegedly said he would speak to his superiors in government to \u201csort Maseko out\u201d.<\/p>\n
According to Maseko, Chabane called him in January 2011 for an urgent meeting. \u201cHe advised me that he had been instructed by the president to redeploy me or terminate my contract,\u201d Maseko told City Press.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe made a commitment not to throw me to the wolves because he knew I was a committed civil servant who had not done anything wrong. He told me he would make a plan to find another post for me in the public service.\u201d<\/p>\n
In response to Maseko\u2019s allegations, Nazeem Howa, CEO of Oakbay Investments \u2013 the holding company for the Gupta family\u2019s businesses \u2013 said: \u201cWe are bemused by Mr Maseko\u2019s six-year-old allegations, which are totally unfounded.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is clearly part of an ongoing, coordinated campaign involving others to continue an already vicious politically driven attack, using the Gupta family as a proxy.<\/p>\n
Zuma\u2019s spokesperson Bongani Ngqulunga said: \u201cIt is unfortunate that Mr Maseko wants to drag the president into matters he thinks are related to the end of his tenure at GCIS. The appointment of directors-general is delegated to ministers. The president has no knowledge of the allegations that Mr Maseko is making.\u201d<\/p>\n
The SACC panel is expected to table a final report in November.<\/p>\n
Find the full article in the 9 October 2016 edition of the City Press<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Mantashe does U-turn on state capture<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nMore on state capture<\/h3>\n