Guptas offered me Finance Minister job: Jonas
Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas has confirmed that he was offered the Finance Minister position by the Gupta family
In a statement released this afternoon, Jonas says he was approached by the controversial family before Nhlanhla Nene's shock sacking in December.
He says he rejected the offer because it made a mockery of the country's hard-earned democracy.
The Sunday Times reported about the job offer at the weekend which the Guptas denied.
Jonas was out of the country at the time of the reports and only returned yesterday.
He says the current narrative that has grown around the issue of state-capture should be of concern to all South Africans.
Responding to the allegations of the family's influence earlier today, the ANC said cabinet appointments are the prerogative of the president.
Following Jonas's confirmation, ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa told Newswatch they believe this is no longer an allegation or speculation.
"We've got to - as the African National Congress - deal with this issue decisively and send an unequivocal message that whilst we recognise that the right to appoint is a prerogative of the President working together in consultation with the leadership, if it is now confirmed that unelected people like the Gupta family are also convening and calling Ministers - including discussing replacements of Cabinet Ministers is of serious concern to us," he said.
You can read Jonas's full statement here.
The confirmation comes as former MP, Vytjie Mentor says she too was offered a ministerial position by the Guptas at their Saxonwold mansion a few years ago, while President Jacob Zuma was apparently in the next room.
The facebook post added to a growing list of claims about the Guptas's involvement in state affairs.
In a short statement last night, the Presidency said Zuma had 'no recollection' of Mentor and could therefore not respond to the claim.
Mentor, who had been on holiday in Thailand and arrived back in South Africa this morning, says Zuma knows who she is and knows her well.
She took to facebook again to list some of her interactions with the president while she was still a member of parliament.
