South African President Jacob Zuma denied being influenced by anyone in the appointment of cabinet ministers, responding to allegations by his own deputy finance minister that a wealthy family close to Zuma offered him the job of finance minister.
The government was rocked on Wednesday by suggestions that the Gupta family may have been behind Zuma’s decision to sack the respected finance minister Nhlanhla Nene in December.
Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas said the Guptas, whose businesses stretch from media to mining, had offered him Nene’s job but he rejected it. The Guptas denied making job offers to anyone in government.
Zuma denied any involvement in response to questions in parliament in Cape Town on Thursday.
“If Jonas says he was offered by the Guptas, I think you will be well-placed to ask the Guptas, or Jonas. Don’t ask me. Where do I come in?” Zuma said.
“I never offered Jonas the ministry. That’s why he is the deputy minister.”
The country’s main financial newspaper, Business Day, said that Jonas received a text message from a “prominent businessman” telling him to be quiet shortly before he made his accusation in a statement on Wednesday.
“Please keep your own counsel. Martyrdom is best left to Christ,” the text message read. The paper did not identify the sender or say how it had seen the message, beyond citing sources close to Jonas. Jonas was not immediately available to comment.
The opposition in parliament called for Zuma to resign.
The claims concerning the Guptas have erupted during a prolonged confrontation between Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, who eventually replaced Nene, and the elite Hawks police unit. That has raised concerns about a possible repeat of the run on the rand and bonds seen in December when Nene was fired.
