Admin
23 Nov, 2016
President Zuma is considering a judicial inquiry into South African major banks in favour of the Gupta Family
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is appalled to learn that President Zuma is considering establishing a judicial inquiry into the closure of the bank accounts of the Guptas’ Oakbay Investments. The President confirmed this after being asked the following straight-forward question during the oral question session in Parliament on 23 November 2016: “Mr. President, on the 2nd September 2016, you told the nation that the statement made by Minister Zwane was not representing presidency, cabinet or government and is unfortunate. However, five days later, on the 7 September, Minister Zwane said in this House “the inter-ministerial committee made five recommendations to cabinet. Four of the recommendations were approved … and one was referred to the president for further consideration as it was not within the purview of cabinet to take a decision on the matter”, now my question is, what is the status of this recommendation as it cannot be left hanging forever?” To my astonishment, the President replied that… “the recommendation in being considered”. This is answer by the President is disturbing because: Firstly, this consideration is confirmed on the eve of the arrival of the rating agencies on out doorstep and at a time when our economy is struggling to breathe. Secondly, this is a direct departure of not contradicting his statement of the 2 September. The President further said, that the “the unfortunate contents of the statement and the inconvenience and confusion caused by the issuing thereof, are deeply regretted”. Thirdly, and notwithstanding the serious allegations filed in court by the Minister of Finance, the President deems it necessary to continue considering a judicial inquiry. Amongst these, is an allegation that the Minister is doing favours for the Gupta family, and that his department has withheld information related to its approval of a transfer of R1.5 billion from a trust account held with Standard Bank to the Bank of Baroda in India. We would have thought that the President would be consistent with his 2 September statement to dismiss the recommendation and allow the private relationship that exists between banks and their clients. This is so because any bank customer, who has a complaint about his or her bank, may approach the Ombudsman for Banking Service (OBS). This action by the President makes him an ombudsman of the Gupta family.
Admin
17 Mar, 2016
UDM reacts on President Zuma’s answers to question on Gupta’s Role in the appointment of Ministers
Media Statement by UDM President Bantu Holomisa, MP This afternoon the President had an opportunity to take the country into his confidence and either confirm or deny the revelations made by the Deputy Minister of Finance, yesterday. Alas, he chose utter arrogance and maximum denialism in defense of his travelers, the Guptas family and his own. His attitude in dealing with this issues of national importance, confirms that once again, he has neglected the country in favour of these two families. It further suggests that he has, together with Guptas ganged against his own Deputy Minister. The President, even had the audacity to say he has nothing to do with the revelations made by his Deputy Minister. He says there is nothing to investigate in order to verify the authenticity or otherwise of the revelations, as suggested by UDM. This is absurd to say the least: here is a Deputy Minister saying he was offered a position in your cabinet by someone else either than the President as provided for in the Constitution and you say you have nothing to do with that… but he continue to quote the Constitution…! The country has no basis to have hope anymore. As his answer confirms that another hour, a day with him in office, the country is going down in a high speed and by the time he leaves office, this country will be shadow of itself. It is now firmly in the hands of the ANC, the party that gave the nation a President who in turn neglected both his party and the country and chose his family and Guptas. We can now put it back to the ANC to do something or allow the electorate to punish them severely. End
