President Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane tried to convince former mineral resources minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi to meet with a member of the Gupta family‚ a request he refused‚ Ramatlhodi said on Tuesday.
Speaking to eNCA on Tuesday morning‚ Ramatlhodi detailed how Duduzane had asked him to meet Ajay Gupta. "I said I would report this (to President Zuma)."
Ramatlhodi said he reported the meeting to the president and there was no further request for a meeting with the Gupta family.
"The bottom line is, I did not co-operate with the Guptas."
Ramatlhodi was speaking to the TV station following explosive allegations revealed by the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism.
Read the amaBhungane story: Exclusive: How Brian Molefe ‘helped’ Gupta Optimum heist
The allegations surfaced a day after Brian Molefe resumed his job as CEO of Eskom after a dispute over his multimillion-rand "golden handshake".
Ramatlhodi told amaBhungane that he was pressured to effectively blackmail Glencore‚ owner of the Optimum coal mine‚ which supplied coal to Eskom’s Hendrina power station.
Optimum was placed under business rescue after Molefe reportedly refused to renegotiate a coal supply contract and imposed a R2bn penalty against the company.
Ramatlhodi said he would be willing to detail further related issues during a commission of inquiry‚ which was recommended by former public protector Thuli Madonsela after her investigation into state capture involving the Guptas‚ who are friends of the president and business partners of Duduzane.
President Zuma has objected to Madonsela’s findings.
"There were other issues. I think if the proposed commission (of inquiry into state capture) comes‚ I might give more meat to (my claims)."
Ramatlhodi said he did not meet with the former public protector’s investigators during their investigation into allegations of undue influence held by the Gupta family last year as he was not well.
"I am prepared to speak under oath. There were other operational issues which would be better ventilated on a better platform. If there is an official platform which requires us to speak‚ I will speak‚" he said.
Eskom board spokesperson Khulani Qoma rubbished Ramatlhodi’s allegations‚ but the former minister told eNCA that the meeting with Duduzane could be verified by his former director-general and appointments secretary.
TMG Digital
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.