Oakbay Investments director Nazeem Howa has hit out at the Sunday Times after a report that he labelled as \u201cfactually bankrupt\u201d on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The Sunday Times reported that an investigation has discovered that a Gupta mine failed a coal quality test four times before landing the multibillion-rand deal on the fifth attempt.<\/p>\n
In a press statement, Howa lashed out at the publication, insisting that their article and editors comments confirmed the adage that \u201cone should not let the facts get in the way of publishing a good story\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s editor\u2019s comment makes very serious factual errors in its attempt to link the Gupta family to the Presidency.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt claims one of the President\u2019s wives is employed within the group. None of the President\u2019s wives are currently employed by the group.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt states as fact that the Gupta\u2019s paid for the house of the President\u2019s wife when this is factually untrue.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt states\u00a0\u201ctwo of Zuma\u2019s children have big jobs with Gupta firms\u201d which is again, factually untrue<\/p>\n
It claims we are supplying Eskom with sub-standard coal \u2013 again, the daily testing at Eskom-controlled labs will prove this to be untrue. The discrepancy in quality only came up in August 2015, despite daily testing.<\/p>\n
Howa went on to say that the lead story had \u201clittle reference\u201d to fact.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Sunday Times again tries to place the Gupta family in the middle of its reporting.\u00a0\u00a0Oakbay Investments, the family\u2019s primary vehicle, holds less than 50% of the shareholding in Tegeta. \u00a0So to place the Gupta\u2019s in the headline is once again mischievous and misleading.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is also worth noting that Oakbay is run by a team of competent and professional managers.\u00a0\u00a0It is insulting and demeaning to the Oakbay management team or that of any of its subsidiaries when media constantly refer to the family in the decision-making,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u2018Guptas are more important than South Africa\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Gupta family scores R4-billion coal supply deal with Eskom<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Eskom fails performance targets, pays bonuses anyway: DA<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n