Nene asks Ramaphosa to be removed as finance minister

JOHANNESBURG - South African finance minister Nhlanhla Nene has asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to remove him after he admitted to visiting the home of the Gupta brothers, friends of scandal-plagued former leader Jacob Zuma, Business Day said yesterday, sending the rand lower.The rand fell more than one percent on the report.Nene has become a divisive figure after testimony he gave at an inquiry into allegations of corruption by the Guptas, in which he admitted to the previously undisclosed visits. He made a public apology about the matter on Friday.Zuma and the Guptas, who face numerous allegations of using their friendship for mutual self-enrichment, have consistently denied any wrongdoing.Business Day cited unidentified government sources as saying that Nene made the request to Ramaphosa at the weekend. Nene did not answer calls for comment."Government sources said Nene approached Ramaphosa after the highly negative public reaction to his apology to South Africans on Friday for the meetings with the Gupta family when he served under Zuma," the South African newspaper said.It said the issue was likely to be raised at a meeting of the ruling African National Congress party later yesterday.ApologyNene apologised on Friday for visiting the home of the Gupta brothers - friends of scandal-plagued former leader Jacob Zuma.Nene told the inquiry that he was fired by Zuma for blocking deals that would have benefited the Guptas, particularly a US$100 billion nuclear power deal with Russia that could have crippled Africa's most developed economy.Some political analysts praised Nene for refusing to bow to the wishes of Zuma and his powerful business allies.However, Nene also revealed for the first time that he had held several meetings with the Guptas at their home in Johannesburg, a confession his opponents said tarnished his anti-graft credentials.The Guptas brothers - Ajay, Atul and Rajesh - have been accused of using their ties with Zuma to siphon off billions of rand in state funds and of inappropriately influencing cabinet appointments. Zuma and the Guptas deny wrongdoing.Nene said he never helped the Guptas."I was wrong in meeting the Guptas at their residence and not in my office or at least a public place," Nene said in a statement, adding that he should have disclosed the meetings earlier."These visits do cast a shadow on my conduct as a public office bearer. I deeply regret these lapses and beg your forgiveness."'MONUMENTAL DISASTER'Nene said in the statement he visited the Gupta family residence between 2010 and 2014, when he was deputy finance minister and later finance minister. Zuma fired Nene in December 2015, but Ramaphosa re-appointed him finance minister in February this year."It's a monumental disaster and doesn't cast him in a good light at all. Whether he takes a leap forward and decides to resign is unlikely," said political analyst Khaya Sithole.Nene's opponents, including the radical opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), say he was involved in corrupt deals with the Guptas when he was deputy finance minister and head of the state pension fund. The EFF has called for his resignation.Nene was the highest profile figure to give evidence at the probe into alleged influence-peddling by the Gupta family."Nene has managed to put some blue water between him and the Guptas but he is in an awkward position," said Daniel Silke, director of Political Futures Consultancy."This coming clean is a positive signal. But government does need to show a sustained commitment to transparency and a commitment to cleaning up governance."CommentTreasury spokesman Jabulani Sikhakhane yesterday referred Reuters to the presidency for comment on Nene’a alleged request to be relieved of his duties. Ramaphosa's spokeswoman Khusela Diko did not respond to phone calls.Ramaphosa has made clean governance and the kick-starting of an economy mired in recession top priorities.Several ministers and government officials have been implicated in the widening graft scandals around the Guptas. – Nampa/Reuters

Nene asks Ramaphosa to be removed as finance minister

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