Mpumalanga premier David Mabuza has distanced himself from the Guptas saying he has "no business dealings whatsoever" with the family.
The family, who are close to President Jacob Zuma and have business dealings with his son Duduzane, are said to have also been close to Free State premier Ace Magashule and his North West counterpart Supra Mahumapelo, who are both ANC chairpermen in their provinces.
Mabuza, Magashule and Mahumapelo are also alleged to have formed the faction in the party dubbed the Premier League. Mabuza is said to be a contender for the post of deputy president when the ANC elects new leadership at its national conference at the end of next year.
According to senior sources in the province, Mabuza's campaign began as far back as the run-up to the 2016 local elections, held in August this year.
He is lobbying heavily to deputise the premier league's preferred candidate at present, African Union commission chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
But yesterday Mabuza's office stated that he was his own person and had no business dealings whatsoever with the Guptas.
Mabuza's spokesman Zibonele Mncwango said this after his office confirmed to weekend newspapers that when Mabuza was gravely ill and went to Moscow, Russia, for treatment he was offered a lift back to the country by Duduzane, on a private jet.
Mabuza is said to be wary of the Gupta family - particularly after the announcement by Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas that the family had offered him the post of finance minister before Nhlanhla Nene was axed in December. His stance is in contrast to that of Magashule and Mahumapelo who have publicly supported the family. Mahumapelo did so in his State of the Province address earlier this year.
The DA in Mpumalanga this week alleged that the provincial government had agreed to place R7-million worth of advertising in the Gupta family newspaper, The New Age, and that this was payback for Mabuza catching a lift on the Guptas' private plane from Russia.
Mabuza's office denied his province entered into an agreement with the newspaper, but agreed The New Age had made a proposal, and their director-general took a decision that a proposal cannot be approved without due processes.
David Mabuza is no Guptas' buddy
Mpumalanga premier David Mabuza has distanced himself from the Guptas saying he has "no business dealings whatsoever" with the family.
The family, who are close to President Jacob Zuma and have business dealings with his son Duduzane, are said to have also been close to Free State premier Ace Magashule and his North West counterpart Supra Mahumapelo, who are both ANC chairpermen in their provinces.
Mabuza, Magashule and Mahumapelo are also alleged to have formed the faction in the party dubbed the Premier League. Mabuza is said to be a contender for the post of deputy president when the ANC elects new leadership at its national conference at the end of next year.
According to senior sources in the province, Mabuza's campaign began as far back as the run-up to the 2016 local elections, held in August this year.
He is lobbying heavily to deputise the premier league's preferred candidate at present, African Union commission chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
But yesterday Mabuza's office stated that he was his own person and had no business dealings whatsoever with the Guptas.
Mabuza's spokesman Zibonele Mncwango said this after his office confirmed to weekend newspapers that when Mabuza was gravely ill and went to Moscow, Russia, for treatment he was offered a lift back to the country by Duduzane, on a private jet.
Mabuza is said to be wary of the Gupta family - particularly after the announcement by Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas that the family had offered him the post of finance minister before Nhlanhla Nene was axed in December. His stance is in contrast to that of Magashule and Mahumapelo who have publicly supported the family. Mahumapelo did so in his State of the Province address earlier this year.
The DA in Mpumalanga this week alleged that the provincial government had agreed to place R7-million worth of advertising in the Gupta family newspaper, The New Age, and that this was payback for Mabuza catching a lift on the Guptas' private plane from Russia.
Mabuza's office denied his province entered into an agreement with the newspaper, but agreed The New Age had made a proposal, and their director-general took a decision that a proposal cannot be approved without due processes.
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