Mngxitama thinks it would be ‘cool’ if Guptas had written Mining Charter

Cape Town – Gupta defender Andile Mngxitama believes it would be cool if the Guptas had written the Mining Charter.

However, he also said the allegation would be an insult to Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane.

“London imbeciles say the Mining Charter was written by the Guptas,” he tweeted on Sunday. “This is an insult to minister Zwane. But if true then Guptas are cool.”

His tweet follows that of his former colleague at the Economic Freedom Front, Floyd Shivambu. Julius Malema’s deputy tweeted: “The addition of ‘naturalised citizens’ as BEE in the #MiningCharter is done by Guptas through their stooge. Zwane. It must be rejected.”

Zwane’s Mining Charter will force mining firms to restructure their ownership to ensure they have 30% black ownership within 12 months. It will also require a 51% black shareholding in all new prospecting licences.

Critics have pointed to the "naturalised citizens" amendment in questioning whether the Guptas would benefit from the Mining Charter.

This comes as the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs will be briefed on Tuesday morning on the naturalisation application process of the Gupta family.

On Monday last week, the Economic Freedom Fighters said it had received reliable information that during Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba's tenure as home affairs minister, he unduly granted the Gupta family South African citizenship.

The Chamber of Mines, which said it was not consulted on the charter, is taking the new law to court to prevent its implementation. The chamber represents 90% of the mining companies affected by the law.

Both Zwane and Mngxitama have been linked to the Guptas, the family that allegedly works with President Jacob Zuma and his allies to score tenders, spy on citizens and decide on political appointments.

Zwane was allegedly selected by the Guptas to become minister to assist the family in the mining sector. The Sunday Times reported that the Guptas were sent his CV a month before he was appointed mineral resources minister, citing the #GuptaLeaks emails.

Another email between Nazeem Howa, former CEO of the Gupta-owned Oakbay, Tony Gupta and Zuma's son Duduzane shows how the family and their associates dictated to Zwane what he should say to the media.

Mngxitama, on the other hand, reportedly asked the Guptas to fund his organisation Black First Land First (BFLF). The group – defending the Guptas – clashed with protesters outside their residence in Saxonwold this year.

Regarding the funding allegation, he told EWN: “That’s absolute nonsense based on a clearly coordinated strategy to attack whoever is opposed to white monopoly capital."

Mngxitama’s BFLF colleague, Ncedisa Mpemnyama, defended the act of asking the Guptas for funding. Writing in the organisation's mouthpiece Black Opinion, Mpemnyama wrote: “The line of argument that is never entertained, which I would like to open up, is whether there’s anything wrong with taking money from the Guptas?”

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