ANC must act now against Mining Minister and fire his ass – like Van Rooyen

When visiting London last month, some heavy hitters asked whether it was true the Guptas had taken SA’s new mining minister Mosebenzi Zwane along to Switzerland to negotiate the purchase of Glencore’s Optimum coal mine. It’s not the kind of thing Glencore would ever comment on publicly, so we couldn’t confirm. But with the many South Africans employed at Glencore doubtless horrified at the way the company was railroaded, they were obviously indiscreet in private. Over the weekend, the Sunday Times confirmed these rumours had substance by publishing details of aircraft flight plans and naming the venue for the meetings (The Dolder Grand outside Zurich). At the time the sale of the Optimum mine became public many were outraged at the way the Guptas used their influence in Government and Eskom to railroad Glencore. At Biznews, we also expressed concern at the reasons why former mining minister Ramathlodi was replaced by junior member in the party whose greatest asset was being a Gupta acolyte. Now comes the newspaper’s confirmation of our worst fears. With blatant cronyism rife, how can any of us be surprised that South African businesses are following foreigners in shipping their capital out the country? On the strength of this damning evidence, the ANC’s top team needs to act rapidly to send Zwane the same way as Zuma’s other cabinet blunder, Weekend Special Finance Minister David van Rooyen. – Alec Hogg

By Jeanette Chabalala of News24

Johannesburg – The EFF has called for the removal of Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane from cabinet.

This after he allegedly formed part of the Gupta delegation of the Tegeta exploration and resources, to visit Glencore in Switzerland and negotiate the purchase of Optimum Colliery.

South Africa's youthful new Minister of Mines, Mosebenzi Zwane. Like his boss, President Jacob Zuma, he has a penchant for tradition, including wearing leopard skins.
South Africa’s youthful new Minister of Mines, Mosebenzi Zwane. Like his boss, President Jacob Zuma, he has a penchant for tradition, including wearing leopard skins.

EFF national spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi accused Zwane of using taxpayer’s money in order to secure business interests for the Guptas.

He said Zwane has always served the Gupta family.

“… From facilitating their landing at the Waterkooof  Airforce  Base for a wedding at Sun City in 2013, to introducing a R570m dairy project in which a Gupta-linked company was involved and set to benefit whilst serving as MEC of agriculture in the Free State province,” he said.

“Zwane is now travelling the world, using taxpayer’s money, to secure the business interests of the Guptas with a criminal company called Glencore.”

Read also: Mischievous – Eskom denies Gupta coal supply

According to the EFF, Glencore is known for manipulating accounting practices to erode the tax base of African countries.

“It is also well-known for breaking international law in pursuit of profits by trading with illegitimate governments like apartheid and other despotic regimes despite UN embargoes.

“Its crimes even extend to environmental degradation in Latin America and a direct refusal to have women in its higher management positions by claiming that women are incapable of senior business leadership,” he added.

This is not the first time Zwane has been linked to the Gupta family.

The minister was the former Free State agriculture MEC.

However, his term was marred by controversies said to involve the politically connected Gupta family.

Zwane also reportedly played a role in the private jet carrying guests for a Gupta wedding in Sun City, landing at Waterkloof Airforce Base in 2013.

Attempts to get comment from Zwane’s office were unsuccessful. – News 24

Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/eff-calls-for-mineral-resources-ministers-removal-from-cabinet-20160131

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