Cape Town - The admission by Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas that he was offered the position of finance minster by a member of the Gupta family opens the deep wounds and fissures surrounding leadership and governance in South Africa.
This is the most direct admission to date of an apparent ‘state capture’ of government by business interests outside the formal political framework. It follows a series of allegations and media-related leaks and can be correlated directly to the attempt by President Jacob Zuma to install Des van Rooyen last December.
The mystery and intrigue of the last few weeks reflect a further erosion of the power of President Zuma. Indeed, it seems now that he is losing control of his own party as an increasing number of senior members break the codes of silence and are prepared to own up to the somewhat sordid affairs of the state.
