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Jacob Zuma

Johannesburg – No one except the president has the power to offer Cabinet positions to members of the ANC, the ruling party said yesterday.

This comes after former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor alleged that she was offered a Cabinet position by the Gupta family, while president Jacob Zuma sat in a room next door.

ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said the party had noted a number of reports alleging “inappropriate and undue influence by the Gupta family” in the appointment of ministers.

“The African National Congress views these allegations in an extremely serious light as they have the potential to erode and undermine the authority of the ANC, as the governing party and the president over the state.

“Any persons or bodies purported to be ‘offering’ Cabinet positions to members of the ANC or any other individuals do so in their own personal capacity with absolutely no authority to effect such offers,” said Kodwa.

He said such people did not carry or represent the mandate of the ANC.

“The organisation does not and shall not outsource this function to any members of the public, regardless on whose authority they may claim to be acting.”

Kodwa said the upcoming ANC national executive committee meeting would discuss this matter.

On Monday, ANC head of policy Jeff Radebe said the party’s top six officials had held a meeting with the Gupta family a few weeks ago.

Mentor made her allegation in response to Democratic Alliance member Johann Abrie’s post on Monday about the Guptas offering deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas the job of finance minister before Nhlanhla Nene was removed.

She wrote: “But they had previously asked me to become Minister of Public Enterprises when Barbara Hogan got the chop, provided that I would drop the SAA flight-route to India and give to them. I refused and so I was never made a Minister. The President was in another room when they offered me this in Saxonworld. [sic]”

Despite her allegation, President Jacob Zuma has claimed that he had “no recollection of Ms Mentor and is not aware of the alleged incidents in her career”. – Sapa