ANC's spokesperson, Zizi Kodwa, reveals ANC's plan to inform the Press Ombudsman of Sunday Times' "poor and shoddy journalism." Kodwa added that Sunday Times' act has "no commitment to high standards in journalistic ethics and practice."
The core of the issue is an article released by Sunday Times on March 13, titled "How Guptas shopped for new minister." In the article, ANC deputy secretary-general, Jessie Duarte, allegedly phoned Deputy Minister Mcebisi Jonas and offered him then-finance minister Nhlanhla Nene's Job. This allegations were based on "highly placed sources in the Treasury," according to Sunday Times.
The call, as reported by the article, was made four days before President Jacob Zuma axed Nene from his post as Finanace Minister.
Kodwa reportedly refers to the article as indirect contravention of the Press Code, which enjoined the media "to report news truthfully, accurately, and fairly." According to Kodwa, the code encourages the media to "avoid the use of anonymous sources unless there is no other way to deal with the story."
ANC deputy secretary-general, Duarte, will seek legal advice on her options with regards to the said article, ANC suggests. Duarte referred to the controversial information as "lies being peddled about her" by Sunday Times.
Before the alleged offer from Duarte, Sunday Times also wrote a meeting that took place at a Sandton Hotel, where Jonas turned down the same offer, that time coming from the Gupta Family. Jonas, reportedly slammed the Guptas with words saying that they (the Guptas) do not run the country. Also present during the meeting was President Zuma's son, Duduzane.
The Guptas allegedly want to have control over the Treasury by filling it with bureaucrats approved by them. They, however, denied the meeting ever happening. As their attorney suggests, their "primary focus is on business, not politics. To be absolutely clear: there was no meeting at all, let alone any inferences or cash offers."
According to the article, Jonas was offered the job and was told that it was his if he wanted it, but with some conditions. These include his support for the approval of the nuclear procurement programme and getting rid of some men, such as director-general Fuzile Lungisa,
However, as reported by IOL, Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesman David Maynier said that Jonas' "zigzagging has created the impression that the reports are true." This is due to the evasive Deputy Minister who refuses to comment on the said issue.
