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Cape Town – Oakbay will engage with banks to reopen their accounts now that the Guptas and Zuma’s son Duduzane announced their resignation from Oakbay Investments, Oakbay Investments CEO Nazeem Howa told CNN on Friday.
This comes after Oakbay's auditor KPMG, their banks FNB and Absa and their sponsor Sasfin Capital all cut ties with the Guptas. Oakbay said on Friday that it had a secret Asian bank present in South Africa that would service the company.
Howa told CNN’s Richard Quest on Quest Means Business that Oakbay will meet with banks “to implore them to not close accounts, especially after Zuma and (the) Guptas stepped aside”, Nzinga Qunta tweeted late on Friday.
Aldrin Sampear tweeted that Howa told CNN he “will now try to speak to banks now that the Guptas have resigned as shareholders”.
Howa also told CNN that Oakbay has money. “It is not the issue... our worry is being able to transact,” tweeted Sampear.
Earlier on Friday, Howa said in a leaked letter to Oakbay staff: "Without bank accounts we may find ourselves in a position where we are unable to pay you‚ our valued employees.”
SABC News contributing editor Vuyo Mvoko tweeted that “Howa further tells CNN: We have no relationship with (President Jacob) Zuma, or any other politician. We try and steer clear of politics".
FULL STORY: Guptas and Duduzane Zuma resign from Oakbay
The family has come under increasing pressure due to allegations that they influenced President Jacob Zuma's appointment of Mines Minister Mosebenzi Zwane and former finance minister Des van Rooyen, as well as offering ministerial posts to Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas and former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor.
CNN's Richard Quest explains the Gupta dilemma:
Howa claimed that “they are victims” and that “state capture (is) not an issue! Oakbay (is) caught in political battle for presidency,” tweeted Theo Venter.
Pierre de Vos, Claude Leon Foundation chair in constitutional governance at the University of Cape Town, tweeted: “So am I getting this right? Oakbay investments will now become like the cabinet - controlled by the Guptas, but from behind the scenes?”
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) chair Dali Mpofu tweeted: “When the puppet master (Atul Gupta) resigns due to our "sustained political attacks"....is (it) too much to expect his puppet to mimic him?”
Democratic Alliance MP Geordin Hill-Lewis tweeted: “So you resign as a director. But you still own the company. And you think you gonna fool us?”
Accountant Khaya Sithole tweeted: “It was all promising until they said 'We have been in direct contact with the Ministers and the Presidency'”.
RELATED: Secret Asian bank backs Guptas as another bites the dust
