Share

Gordhan and Jonas: The bromance continues

Johannesburg – Former finance minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas may not be leading Treasury any more, but their bromance has outlived the trials and tribulations preceding the late night Cabinet reshuffle in March.

Speaking at a lecture on state capture at the University of Johannesburg on Wednesday afternoon, Gordhan commended Jonas for turning down a R600m bribe from the Guptas.

“How many of you would accept R600m as a bribe from the Guptas?” Gordhan asked.

“Here we have a person right in front of you who was offered a R600m bribe and said ‘keep it’.”

“He said ‘keep it’ because he was not prepared to sell out the sovereignty of our country.”

Gordhan said South Africans have to consider which side they would be standing on in the face of the crisis the country is facing.

“Are you on the side of creating an honest South Africa, where we are not described as a nation of a corrupt people but a nation proudly standing behind the principles of the Mandelas, Sisulus and Tambos?”

In turn, Jonas echoed these sentiments in his address, saying that South Africa is increasingly becoming a capital of corruption and state capture.

He said the country is in a leadership crisis. “South Africa requires strong, visionary leadership.”

READ: Jonas: New political leadership needed to save economy

Following the lecture, a crowd of students stormed the stage to take selfies with Gordhan and ask him questions. He and “his colleague”, as he still refers to Jonas, were temporarily separated.  

But later, as Gordhan was being ushered out of the venue, he enquired where Jonas was. Someone pointed out that Jonas was standing just ahead of him, speaking to another journalist.

The two of them now reunited, they walked to their cars with a trail of students behind them, still answering their remaining questions.

South Africa’s Obama and Biden live on.

ALSO READ: Gordhan, Jonas: The end of Treasury's bromance


SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE UPDATE: Get Fin24's top morning business news and opinions in your inbox.

Read Fin24's top stories trending on Twitter:


We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.99
-0.3%
Rand - Pound
24.14
-0.1%
Rand - Euro
20.64
-0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.39
+0.3%
Rand - Yen
0.13
+0.5%
Platinum
913.65
-1.1%
Palladium
1,016.50
-4.6%
Gold
2,158.56
-0.1%
Silver
24.98
-0.2%
Brent Crude
86.89
+1.8%
Top 40
66,252
0.0%
All Share
72,431
0.0%
Resource 10
53,317
0.0%
Industrial 25
100,473
0.0%
Financial 15
16,622
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders