Photo: Elmond Jiyane / GCIS
Photo: Elmond Jiyane / GCIS
One of the worst kept secrets in South Africa politics was exposed in great detail by Norma Mngoma, after she testified against her estranged husband Malusi Gigaba and his close relationship with the Guptas on Monday. Now, we know the Indian brothers looked after the ex-ministers who helped facilitate state capture – but we didn’t realise it went THIS far.
Malusi Gigaba remained loyal to the Gupta brothers throughout Jacob Zuma’s nine-year presidency. He went into bat for them in several high-profile cases – not least the infamous ‘citizenship case’. The controversial politician had has subservience rewarded, according to Norma, and she described gifts that the Guptas ‘lavished’ upon the pair:
Norma Mngoma didn’t let up from start to finish last night – and her testimony will go down in the Zondo Commission’s ‘Hall of Fame’. However, she has also defended her own role in this ‘sordid partnership’ with the Guptas, claiming that the large gifts of cash were made to feel normal by both the corrupt family and her then-husband.
“Over the years, [Malusi Gigaba] had received cash and various gifts and benefits from the Guptas. Ajay Gupta gave him a lot. Our wedding cost millions, and I paid all the wedding expenses – including caterers and other suppliers – from the bundles of cash that was received from Malusi. He always used to carry large amounts of money around with him.
“I didn’t find it strange [the amount] because Malusi has been a minister for a very, very long time and also he told me that he had savings with the money market that he saves money from. And most of the expenses we don’t pay for them because it’s paid by the state … so to have a lot of cash is not something that was strange to me.” | Norma Mngoma
Ms. Gigaba says over the years, Mr. Gigaba had received cash and various gifts and benefits, from the Guptas, she says few months before Mr. Gigaba took office as Minister of the DPE, Mr. Ajay Gupta gave Mr. Gigaba a white BMW, #StateCaptureInquiry
— State Capture Commission (@StateCaptureCom) April 26, 2021