Source: https://twitter.com/eNCA/status/1495305954837110785?t=eskecPY2CEuzeNE7hF9sLQ&s=19
ANC veteran and former Free State Premier, Ace Magashule has denied ever having close relations with the Gupta family who had so much influence in the capture of the state under the so-called nine wasted years of Jacob Zuma.
Ace Magashule who will be appearing at the Bloemfontein High Court on Monday for a pretrial to his R255 million corruption case, said it is a misconception that the Gupta family was introduced to the ANC under Jacob Zuma’s era.
He said the Gupta family was long introduced to the African National Congress by the late president, Nelson Mandela.
“I was not part of corruption and state capture, the Guptas have been in South Africa during Mandela’s time. Mandela introduced them to ANC.
Mbeki came in, he worked very close with the Guptas. When we all became premiers from Zweli Mkhize to Nomvula Mokonyane, all of us the ANC introduced us to the Guptas in a hotel in Pretoria. They said to us they are business people,” he said.
Ace Magashule stated that those comrades today who are trying to distance themselves from the Guptas or saying they have never met the Guptas are not telling the truth, as they themselves were at the Gupta family compound.
Several RET comrades have already started making their way to Free State province ahead of Ace Magashule’s pretrial on his corruption case.
He however maintains that he is innocent and that the charges he is facing are “flimsy” and politically motivated.
“On my way to Mangaung together with my friend and comrade, attorney Frans Mashele, to meet with the secretary general of ANC, comrade Ace Magashule and to attend his court case tomorrow.
We will continue to support our SG until this farcical persecution ends. #HandsOffAceMagashule!” Carl Niehaus said as he traveled to the Free State province.
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