Parliament, Wednesday, 31 January 2018 – The Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises resumed its Inquiry on Wednesday into the mismanagement of state funds in state-owned enterprises.
Deputy Minister for Public Enterprises, Mr Ben Martins, gave his testimony. In his testimony, he disputed Eskom’s suspended head of legal Ms Suzanne Daniels’s claim that they had a meeting with Mr Duduzane Zuma, Mr Salim Essa and Mr Ajay Gupta at Melrose Arch on July 29, 2017.
Mr Martins said on that day he attended Mr Ronnie Mamoepa’s funeral. “The official Department of Public Enterprises Deputy Minister’s diary reveals that on 29 July 2017 I had attended the funeral service of Mr Ronnie Mamoepa.
“I have been perplexed and astounded by the false testimony of Ms Daniels, more so as to why she has not reported the alleged meeting of the 29h of July 2017 which, among other things, according to her testimony, brought the Deputy Judge President’s Office into disrepute by insinuating that it was malleable to corruption. I would have thought that as a member of the legal profession, she would have reported the matter to the South African Police Service and the Law Society of which she is member,” said Deputy Minister Martins.
He clarified the meeting that he had with former Prasa CEO Mr Lucky Montana. “I had organised the interaction with Mr Tony Gupta, Mr Duduzane Zuma and Mr Lucky Montana where issues of Prasa were discussed. I had never insinuated that Mr Montana organised the meeting,” said Deputy Minister Martins.
In his submission recounting events of the meeting, Deputy Minister Martins said: “Mr Montana arrived first at the meeting. The issue of Prasa’s board was discussed between myself and Mr Montana before the arrival of Mr Tony Gupta and Mr Duduzane Zuma. At the time there was talk and rumours that Mr Buthelezi and Mr Montana were going to be removed as the chairperson and CEO of Prasa respectively. I assured Mr Montana that I would not support his and Mr Buthelezi’s removal as there was no basis and justification for it. Shortly after this meeting, Mr Tony Gupta and Mr Duduzane Zuma arrived at my residence.”
In his testimony on Tuesday, Mr Montana informed the Committee that Deputy Minister Martins, in an attempt to clear his name and distance himself from the Gupta family, created the impression that he (Mr Montana) brought members of the Gupta family to him (Mr Martins).
The Chairperson for the Inquiry, Ms Zukiswa Rantho, asked the Deputy Minister to apologise to the Committee after media reports said he referred to the Inquiry as a kangaroo court.
Deputy Minister Martins said he had never regarded the Inquiry as a kangaroo court.
“I have never ever said that this Committee is a kangaroo court. I would like whoever has articulated this to provide the requisite proof. It is not the first time I’ve heard this,” said Deputy Minister Martins.
Ms Rantho said: “When we took the decision to have the Inquiry we had your blessing. You assured us that you will be behind us but to our dismay and disappointment, you uttered such comments.”
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE INQUIRY FOR THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES, MS ZUKISWA RANTHO.
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