Business Leadership South Africa issued a terse statement late tonight
around the confirmation by deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas that the Gupta
family had offered him the job of finance minister.
In a statement signed by its president Saki Macozoma and chairperson
Bobby Godsell, the organisation said Jonas' statement that he was offered the
job as the political head of the Treasury "by the Gupta brothers marks a
grave threat to our country’s constitutional democracy".
"The statement requires a decisive response from President Jacob
Zuma, who alone has the prerogative to appoint both ministers and deputy
ministers. If other senior public office bearers have had similar approaches
now is the time for them to take the people of South Africa into their
confidence," the organisation said.
"Our government, the critical institutions of our democracy and
indeed the citizenry of our country must choose between being a society
governed by law or one captured and directed by private interests.” - Ferial Haffajee