Gupta family approach to Mbalula is an 'urban legend' - Howa

The Guptas took out a double-page newspaper advertisement in the New Age‚ which they own‚ on Friday to deny that they were influencing Cabinet appointments in return for growing their business interests.

“Our last audited financial statements show that only have 1% of business coming from government… On coal supply‚ we have under 1% of the supply to Eskom. If the Optimum deal closes‚ this will move to about 5%‚” said Oakbay Investments CEO Nazeem Howa. Oakbay is the holding company of the Gupta family’s businesses.

Howa said it was an “urban legend” that the family had offered Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula his job‚ as recounted by Economic Freedom Front leader Julius Malema.

Ajay Gupta was quoted as saying: “I read a speculative report in a weekend newspaper that Fikile is being named as a possible minister. When I bumped into him a few days later‚ I jokingly congratulated him on his possible appointment. Fikile then tweeted that he was told by a Gupta that he is heading for the Cabinet.”