Mosebenzi Zwane Gordhan

Photo: Mining Indaba / Flickr

Gordhan ‘fights off’ threat from state capture kingpin Mosebenzi Zwane

Mosebenzi Zwane is said to be ‘leading the charge’ against Pravin Gordhan, but his efforts to dismiss the minister seem to have fallen flat.

Mosebenzi Zwane Gordhan

Photo: Mining Indaba / Flickr

The factional battles plaguing the ANC look like they are here to stay. Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan – currently taking an enormous amount of flack for Eskom’s poor performance – found himself fighting off a potential ousting lead by Mosebenzi Zwane on Sunday.

Who is Mosebenzi Zwane?

Zwane is one of the most influential politicians who got their hands dirty in the state capture project. One of the more willing Gupta stooges, the infamous mineral resources minister (whose disastrous tenure almost crippled the mining industry) is said to be leading the charge against Pravin.

  • Mosebenzi Zwane was a regular visitor to Saxonwold, turning up there on at least nine occasions.
  • He promoted the establishment of the Guptas’ Estina money laundering front, which cost Free State at least R220 million. 
  • The Guptas were influential in making Zwane a Cabinet member, allegedly fast-tracking his progression from provincial government to the higher echelons of power.

Pravin Gordhan survives onslaught from detractors

Things allegedly came to a head at the ANC lekgotla meeting last weekend. Zwane is said to have told fellow NEC members that he wants to see Gordhan fired from his role. However, the under-fire minister has rallied the troops, and only one other person (Bongani Bongo) supported Zwane’s mission to dethrone PG.

However, Zwane is now facing a significant push-back. Rudie Heyneke is OUTA’s portfolio manager on state capture. He believes Zwane should be facing criminal charges instead of being an MP on a publicly funded salary. The controversial politician chairs the Portfolio Committee on Transport, which is a powerful position.

“Why would anybody listen to Mosebenzi Zwane? He is reportedly leading the charge in the ANC NEC to get rid of Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan. Last week, OUTA endorsed the call by ANC veterans to be aware that the onslaught against Gordhan is being run by those implicated in state capture.

“Since 2012 there has been a golden thread that attaches Zwane to the Guptas. OUTA believes that Zwane had an improper and corrupt relationship with the Guptas, to the detriment of South Africa. We believed that he abandoned oath of office to enrich the Gupta family and their business associates.”

Rudi Heyneke, Organisation for Undoing Tax Abuse