South Africa's Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene looks on ahead of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry probing state capture in Johannesburg, South Africa October 3, 2018. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Home » SA Finance Minister: Zuma Sacked Me for Rejecting Gupta Deals

SA Finance Minister: Zuma Sacked Me for Rejecting Gupta Deals

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene said on Wednesday he was fired by former president Jacob Zuma for refusing to approve contracts that would financially benefit the Gupta family, friends of Zuma accused of corruption. Nene, who was giving testimony at a judicial inquiry into influence-peddling, said the main reason he was […]

03-10-18 12:47
South Africa's Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene looks on ahead of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry probing state capture in Johannesburg, South Africa October 3, 2018. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene said on Wednesday he was fired by former president Jacob Zuma for refusing to approve contracts that would financially benefit the Gupta family, friends of Zuma accused of corruption.

South Africa’s Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene looks on ahead of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry probing state capture in Johannesburg, South Africa October 3, 2018. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Nene, who was giving testimony at a judicial inquiry into influence-peddling, said the main reason he was sacked was for rejecting a proposed plan to build a fleet of nuclear power plants. The project could have cost up to $100 billion.

Zuma and the Gupta family deny allegations they colluded to inappropriately divert state funds.

(Reporting by Mfuneko Toyana; Writing by Joe Brock; Editing by Toby Chopra)