South Africa’s "new Guptas" — former jailbirds Gayton McKenzie and Kenny Kunene — are being lined up to be BEE partners in a multibillion-rand gas deal.
The pair, said to enjoy a cosy relationship with President Jacob Zuma, travelled to Russia three weeks ago to sell themselves to Russian company Rosgeo as possible BEE partners in the R5-billion deal.
With them on the plane to Russia were State Security Minister David Mahlobo and two senior Central Energy Fund officials.
During a stopover in Dubai, McKenzie and Kunene had coffee with the CEF officials while Mahlobo was said to have introduced the pair to Rosgeo CEO Roman Panov.
A senior government official said Mahlobo’s presence was to "strengthen the ex-cons’ credibility" as business people.
• Read the full story on the Sunday Times website
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