RANDFONTEIN, SOUTH AFRICA JANUARY 19: Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane addresses the media during the release of the 2016 health and safety statistics in the mining sector on January 19, 2017 in Randfontein, South Africa. Zwane said 73 fatalities were reported in 2016 compared to 77 during the previous year which translates to 5% […]
RANDFONTEIN, SOUTH AFRICA JANUARY 19: Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane addresses the media during the release of the 2016 health and safety statistics in the mining sector on January 19, 2017 in Randfontein, South Africa. Zwane said 73 fatalities were reported in 2016 compared to 77 during the previous year which translates to 5% […]
The Organisation for Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has compiled a lengthy affidavit that is bursting with evidence of Mosebenzi Zwane’s state capture activity.
The civil action group have identified his preferential treatment of the Gupta family as ‘treasonable’, given that his decisions to constantly favour their businesses ahead of others ‘endangered the security of the republic’.
The document is vociferously worded, and comprehensively cites their reasons for making Zwane their main target:
“He is a puppet on state capture strings. [Zwane’s conduct was treasonable] as it violated, threatened and endangered the existence, independence and security of the Republic of South Africa, or had the effect or potential effect of changing the constitutional structure”.
The Mining Minister has had a tumultuous 2017, with his new charter on the industry causing an uproar for its demands to force 30% of companies to be black-owned within 12 months.
The allegations against him are numerous, damning, but most of all, they are supported by a treasure trove of evidence.
Mosebenzi Zwane, state capture, and treason
. He was the brains behind the Vrede dairy project – an ill-conceived shell of a business that cost Free State around R184m. It both hurt the state and benefitted the Guptas immensely.
. Zwane physically put national security at risk by arranging the illegal landing of a Gupta plane at Waterkloof Air Force Base ahead of a family wedding.
. He sold Optimum Coal Holdings assets to the Guptas AND was responsible for releasing two trust funds for mine rehabilitation. This cost R1.8bn and went straight into Gupta accounts.
Read: Guess who paid for Vega Gupta’s 2013 wedding? Yes, the government did
Brazen, shameless attempts to facilitate state capture in return for cold Gupta cash may have finally caught up with Mosebenzi Zwane.
OUTA’s affidavit also revealed what the Minister got for being such a good little puppet: All-expenses-paid trips top the list, with visits to Sun City, Dubai and India being the standout gifts.
He even brought a local gospel choir to India with him. Like we all do, hey?
Mr Zwane will need to harness all of his mining experience to dig himself out of a hole this deep.
