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Mosebenzi Zwane: Another artful dodger

MOSEBENZI Joseph Zwane is an affable man. The minister of mineral resources, who was catapulted from an MEC position in the Free State to the executive authority of arguably one of the most important economic portfolios in government, is – in his own words – a humble public servant, always willing to engage whether it be mining bosses, workers, communities and members of Parliament.

But beneath the minister’s agreeable demeanour lies an astute politician who knows all too well how to manoeuvre himself out of a tight spot, just like the man at the top he so respects and admires.

His recent session with the oversight committee on mining was a fine example. Members of Parliament – at least the ones who would like to see action on the plethora of state capture allegations – were undoubtedly licking their chops in anticipation of the minister’s explanations.

Last Wednesday, Zwane and an entourage from the Department of Mineral Resources were dead on time and entered the Good Hope Chamber where the interrogation was set to take place confidently, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with all present.

The minister faced a barrage of questions, ranging from his relationship with the Gupta family on whose behalf he allegedly secured the acquisition of a colliery, his involvement in the dairy farm project in Vrede in the Free State, his all-expenses paid trips to Dubai, India and Switzerland, courtesy of the Gupta family, and his reported involvement in the landing of a Gupta-chartered aircraft at the Waterkloof air force base in Pretoria.

But before MPs had a chance to start the interrogation, Zwane set the parameters. The matters at hand, he explained, are the subject of court proceedings and members should understand that he won’t answer questions that could compromise him.

“My humble request is that we allow the relevant institutions to get to the details of these matters and we lay them to rest,” the minister maintained.

‘Vrede’ with Vrede

MPs’ prods about Zwane’s involvement in a dairy project in Vrede, the little town in the Free State Zwane hails from, were merely stonewalled.

Zwane solemnly told members that he is currently mineral resources minister. Any questions about the project (which, according to Zwane, helped empower the town’s poor residents to compete with the likes of Clover and Parmalat) should be directed to the Free State agriculture department, which is eagerly awaiting their calls for more information.

(News24 earlier reported that an investigation by AmaBhungane and Scorpio revealed how R30m that was supposed to go to the dairy project was diverted through a web of Gupta-related companies to pay for the wedding of Vega Gupta and Aakash Jahajgarhia in 2013, during Zwane’s tenure as Free State MEC.)

A place called Waterkloof

The minister was equally flippant about his mediation which allegedly helped the Guptas land a private plane at the Waterkloof air force base in Pretoria – a national keypoint.

“How can anybody believe that a mere MEC from the Free State can influence the landing of a plane in a different province, from another country?” Zwane asked.

“What powers must you have to influence this? I didn’t even know about this air force base, called Waterkloof. I hope everybody understands this.”

Dubai, India, Switzerland – it’s all work, no play

Zwane also had to field dozens of questions about trips to Dubai, India and Switzerland – many of them allegedly paid for by the Gupta family or their business associates.

When presented with emails signed MJ Zwane, in which the minister allegedly communicated preferences for room allocations during an upcoming hotel stay, his defence was that he never had the opportunity to deal with the supposed evidence.

“Where have they (the emails) been validated? I am MJ Zwane. The whole of South Africa knows that. Test those emails and find out if they’re fake or what. So that this house (Parliament) can deal with me that is befitting my status as an honourable minister of this house.”

Zwane insisted that his trips to Dubai, India and Switzerland were all strictly on government business, and that those who want more information should consult the court papers in which the details are conveyed.

And he made sure members knew he did not like their line of questioning. “I’ve answered these questions more than ten times. Can’t members take notes so that we don’t have to bring these back again and again?”

And to the Economic Freedom Fighters’ Nazier Paulse: “It’s unfortunate that the Honourable Member thinks I’m captured. My history tells me no one can capture me. I’ve served my credentials as cadre in the ANC. I think I deserve better from you. If you serve your masters, say so.”

Like (Duduzane’s) father …

As a die-hard supporter of Number One, the minister could not let the opportunity in Parliament pass to express his dismay about the fact that “his President” has become known as Ubaba ka Duduzane.

(The Economic Freedom Fighters has of late refused to refer to the Honourable President as “Zuma”, but rather the “Father of Duduzane”.)

“It’s unfortunate that my own president is known as Ubaba ka Duduzane. That’s unfortunate. I’ve been taught to respect him,” Zwane said piously.

No doubt he has to be thankful to Zuma for plucking him from the corridors of the Free State legislature to do his and his friends’ bidding.

And Zwane no doubt learnt from Zuma how to be an artful dodger par excellence.

South Africans, and specifically Parliament, have without question become used to ministers’ economic dealings with the truth, and the skillful evasion of questions.

But Zwane had one last ace up his sleeve, after what was all but a bruising interrogation from the mining committee.

His department issued a statement afterwards, depicting Zwane’s triumphant emergence from the Parliamentary session.

Headlined Minister Comes out Guns Blazing, Zwane’s spin doctors described how he put opposition MPs in their place by telling them not to abuse Parliament for their “narrow personal interests”.

The question now remains: will sleeping dogs lie, or will they eventually wake up and bite when least expected?

Only time will tell. 

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