Former President Jacob Zuma told the inquiry into state capture that he does not recall a conversation where he allegedly instructed former GCIS Director General Themba Maseko to give government business to the Guptas.
Zuma said the phone call with Maseko might have happened, but he “doesn’t recall,” adding it’s “natural” because the Guptas were looking for support for their New Age newspaper and GCIS would have been the dept to speak to.
Zuma said he does not usually say “mfoka baba” he usually says “mfanakithi” referring to Maseko’s testimony.
When asked if he had knowledge about the Gupta family wanting the entire R600m advertising spend from government to go directly to the New Age and ANN7, Zuma replied ” I had no knowledge.”
Zuma told the commision that former minister in the presidency Essop Pahad introduced him to the Guptas after the Guptas came from seeing Thabo Mbeki at his presidential residence.
The Thabo Mbeki Foundation has, via Facebook, reissued a 2016 statement to rebut claims made by Zuma during the first day of his testimony at the state capture commission of inquiry.
The controversial Gupta family had stronger and closer relations with his predecessors, Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki, Zuma said.
HANDS OFF ZUMA!
Ahead of his testimony before the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, some of his political allies showed up to support the former president.
Former finance minister Des van Rooyen and former ANC spokesman Carl Niehaus were among the first to arrive, joined later by former North West premier Supra Mahumapelo.
Young people dressed in school uniforms also descended on the commission venue while MKMVA and ANC supporters marched behind them.
Black First Land First leader Andile Mngxitama was refused entry, reportedly for donning his party regalia.
Mngxitama refused to remove the regalia, arguing that the police must show him a rule that bans party regalia.
“Some people sold out during the struggle
Jacob Zuma
After his concluding his testimony, Zuma addressed his supporters outside the venue.
“Some people sold out during the struggle,” Zuma told them, they were recruited by the enemy.
“We should remain in our trenches to defend the ANC, Zuma said.
During his opening statement, Zuma accused senior ANC member Ngoako Ramatlhodi of being an apartheid-era spy.
Earlier, Zuma’s supporters handed over a memorandum of demands to the
