ANC's decision making body meets amid Gupta scandal

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) met in Pretoria on Saturday to review its policies as the party is haunted by a scandal in relation to the meddling by the Indian Gupta family in state affairs.

The NEC, as part of its overall political discussion, will consider the Indian Gupta family so as to reaffirm the authority of the organisation and restore the confidence of the SA people, the ANC said prior to the meeting.

ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe said however that the economy and local government elections are set to take centre stage and the alleged influence of the Gupta family will not be on the agenda but would be addressed if it rose from the floor.

A group of protesters gathered outside the venue, demanding that the ANC take action against the Gupta family or would lose its legitimacy.

Earlier this week, the former chair of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, Vytjie Mentor, publicly revealed that she was offered the job of Minister of Public Enterprises by the Guptas on conditions that she "drops the SAA (South African Airways) flight-route to India and give to them".

Mentor further alleged that President Jacob Zuma was on the Guptas Saxonwold premises in Johannesburg at the time, in a room next door.

Mentor's utterances have led to several ANC members speaking out on similar encounters with the Guptas, including Deputy Finance Minister, Mcebisi Jonas, Public Service and Administration Minister, Ngoako Ramathlodi and former Public Enterprises Minister, Barbara Hogan.

As the NEC was meeting, the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) said the NEC should do the honourable thing during its sitting to recall Zuma from his position with immediate effect.

"It is becoming clear that the ANC is no longer interested in the people of South Africa. Their president has been captured by the Guptas, and he in turn has captured the state. South Africa no longer belongs to all who live in it -- rather it now belongs to a select clique of politically connected people," the DA said.

The Gupta family reportedly keeps close ties with Zuma and has huge business projects in South Africa.

In an interview with eNCA television in January, Zuma said he is not bothered by people's perceptions of his relationship with the Gupta family.

"Do you know the Guptas have been the friends of the presidents of this country? I am not the first one," Zuma said.

He said all the criticism of his relationship with the wealthy family was politically motivated. Endit