Bishops in Southern Africa Alarmed by Influence of a Wealthy Family on the Executive

CANAA || By Father Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 17 March 2016

Catholic Bishops in Southern Africa are alarmed by the influence a wealthy family is having on the executive in South Africa following revelations by the Deputy Minister of Finance that he declined the family’s job offer to head the national treasury.

“The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference is profoundly disturbed by Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas’s confirmation that he was offered the post of Finance Minister by members of the Gupta family,” the Bishops said in a statement Thursday.

On Wednesday, South Africa’s Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas released a statement confirming that the Gupta family had indeed offered him the job of heading the Treasury in December before President Zuma fired Nhlanhla Nene.

“Members of the Gupta family offered me the position of Minister of Finance to replace then Minister Nene,” Jonas confirmed in his Wednesday statement, adding, “I rejected this out of hand.”

“The basis of my rejection of their offer is that it makes a mockery of our hard earned democracy, the trust of our people and no one apart from the President of the Republic appoints ministers,” Jonas explained.

Gupta family has extensive businesses in South Africa, including computers, air travel, energy, technology and media as well as mining.

In the statement issued by the President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC) Archbishop Stephen Brislin, the Bishops called on the national leadership of South Africa “to demonstrate unambiguously that such alarming improprieties in the conduct of high government business will no longer be tolerated.”

Jonas said that although he had hesitated to speak out publicly on the matter, his conscience could no longer allow him to remain quiet.

“I do so in accordance with my conscience, my political values and the best traditions of my organisation, the ANC, of which I have been a member since my early teens,” Jonas revealed and further cautioned, “Of primary concern to me is that this issue has a real danger of diverting attention away from the real and urgent challenges we face as a country.”

“History will judge us on the extent to which we have stayed true to the commitments we have made to our people through our public pronouncements and private conduct,” Jonas maintained.

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has been accused of allowing members of the Indian-born Gupta family to wield undue influence on him as head of state, accusations he vehemently denied on Thursday.

Responding to the statement by Jonas, President Zuma denied being influenced by anyone in the appointment of cabinet ministers.

"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 queried, responding to questions in parliament in Cape Town on Thursday.

"I never offered Jonas the ministry. That's why he is the deputy minister," President Zuma maintained.

The Gupta family too has denied the allegations.

However, the Bishops in Southern Africa took seriously Jonas’ statement saying, “Mr Jonas’s revelation lends credence to other claims of involvement by the same family in the appointment of ministers.”

Here below is the full text of the Bishops' statement. Further below is the full statement by Deputy Minister of Finance Mcebisi Jonas

The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference is profoundly disturbed by Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas’s confirmation that he was offered the post of Finance Minister by members of the Gupta family.

It is vital that high offices of State should not be compromised by the involvement of parties with commercial or personal interests. There are no circumstances which would justify this kind of interference; no-one outside the most senior leadership of the government and the governing party should be in a position to make such offers.

Mr Jonas’s revelation lends credence to other claims of involvement by the same family in the appointment of ministers.

Such interference seriously undermines transparent and accountable governance in South Africa, and betrays our people’s struggle for political and economic freedom.

The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference therefore calls upon President Jacob Zuma and the leadership of the African National Congress to demonstrate unambiguously that such alarming improprieties in the conduct of high government business will no longer be tolerated.

We wish to stress that this is a matter of vital interest for common good of all South Africans; it is not a question of party politics, in which, we as a church denomination, have no specific interest.

South Africa is passing through a difficult period, politically and economically, and it is only by adhering to fundamental values of good governance and integrity in public life that we will be able to face up to and overcome our challenges.

Statement issued by Archbishop Stephen Brislin, President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference on 17 March 2016.

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For more information contact Archbishop Slattery

Contacts: 0124602055/0834685473

On Wednesday, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Finance, Jonas released a statement that the Guptas had indeed offered him the top Treasury job in December before President Zuma fired Nhlanhla Nene.

Here is the full statement by Jonas

“I have decided to respond to and clarify certain questions that have been in the public domain recently. I do so in accordance with my conscience, my political values and the best traditions of my organisation, the ANC, of which I have been a member since my early teens.

I regard our Constitution as being sacrosanct and it embraces the values that South Africans struggled for, and what we live by. I was appointed Deputy Minister in terms of the Constitution by the President of the Republic. Any practice that conflicts with the prescripts of the constitution must be challenged in the interest of our democracy and the accountability we have to our people. The ANC that we have been and continue to be proud members of, has offered us the opportunity to serve our country, an honour that I do not take for granted. My historical commitment to the liberation of our people has not waned.

My daily decisions and actions are informed by the understanding that true political freedom will be achieved through deliberate and active management of a transformed yet inclusive growing economy. The current economic climate presents many risks for our country, which requires responsible leadership to avoid a fullblown crisis. We have to unite on the key issues relating to managing the macroeconomic risks, while urgently unlocking new sources of growth and job creation. South Africa requires “all hands on deck”.

The extent to which we are able to navigate the current macro-economic challenges, restore investor confidence and rapidly stimulate growth, will depend on heightened levels of political leadership.

The narrative that has grown around the issue of “state capture” should be of concern to all responsible and caring South Africans, particularly those of us who have accepted the task to lead our people. We cannot afford to ignore the obvious impact these sentiments may have on our country and the resultant potential of undermining our moral authority. Neither can we afford to allow the attempts to capture the state to divert us from dealing with the challenges that our country faces. History will judge us on the extent to which we have stayed true to the commitments we have made to our people through our public pronouncements and private conduct.

Therefore let me state the facts on the matter of whether I was approached by nongovernmental individuals in respect of the position of Minister of Finance. Members of the Gupta family offered me the position of Minister of Finance to replace then Minister Nene. I rejected this out of hand. The basis of my rejection of their offer is that it makes a mockery of our hard earned democracy, the trust of our people and no one apart from the President of the Republic appoints ministers. Let me also place it on record that there was no discussion between the Deputy Secretary General of the ANC Ms Jessie Duarte and myself on this matter.

I have hesitated to speak out publicly on this matter until now, but I feel it is no longer possible to remain quiet. Of primary concern to me is that this issue has a real danger of diverting attention away from the real and urgent challenges we face as a country.

I am committed to good governance, abiding by the constitution of our country and being accountable to our people who repeatedly express their confidence and trust in us, election after election. It is this constant state of awareness and consciousness drummed into most of us throughout our service in the national democratic revolution led by the ANC, that has provided us with the moral capital and tools to apply sound judgement to navigate challenges that emerge in the natural course of societal leadership. It is only through these values and moral covenants that I serve my organisation, my fellow country men and women, my beloved South Africa.

Finally, I remain confident that the challenges that we face as a nation will be overcome if we collectively use our efforts for the benefit of all. I am resolute in playing my part in preserving the integrity of National Treasury as an institution in my capacity as Deputy Minister. I’m also committed to in making my contribution towards building a prosperous South Africa led by the glorious movement of our people, the African National Congress.”