'I took the Gupta matter to the NEC': Mbalula
Former Sports Minister, Fikile Mbalula, has told the State Capture Commission of Inquiry of his concern around privileged information making its way to unauthorised people such as the Guptas and how he's raised the issue at the ruling party's national National Executive Committee sitting.
He's currently testifying before the State Capture Inquiry.
Mbalula has told the commission he received a call from Ajay Gupta - congratulating him on his new appointment as sports minister.
He says only the president and a few others should've known about ministerial promotions.
"At a political level, it will be the secretary general of the ANC of which on appointment - as Minister of Sports - he was present. At the administration level, it's the Chief of Staff of the ANC who will call me or the president will call me directly."
Mbalula also said the only time he visited the Gupta home was to address a smear campaign he says the Indian family's paper was leading against him and not for promotional reasons.
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"That is what we discussed at his house. He offered my some curry before we could talk. I think that's their culture that before you talk to them, you eat curry. I don't like vegetarian curry - but I had to eat that curry. It didn't finish me because I stood firm," Mbalula said.
Mbalula has told the Commission that Ajay Gupta called to congratulate him about his new appointment as sports minister.
But he has stressed that he was not offered the position by the Guptas.
Earlier this month, former finance minister Trevor Manuel told the commission that Mbalula had been emotional at an ANC NEC meeting in August 2011 after allegedly being told by one of the Gupta brothers about his appointment.
Mbalula has today told the commission that he indeed raised concern about the Guptas.