Economics
South African Finance Chief Met Guptas, Refused Nuclear Deal
- Nene was at Saxonwold home of Gupta family at least six times
- Zuma asked Nene to approve funds for PetroSA to buy refinery
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South African Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene said he met repeatedly with Gupta family members, who are accused of being in a corrupt relationship with Jacob Zuma, and that the ex-president was the force behind pressure on him twice to sign a multi-billion Russian nuclear-power deal.
Nene made his comments in a statement accompanying his testimony at a judicial inquiry in Johannesburg into allegations of corruption and so-called state capture that relates to the Guptas and Zuma. Nene denied wrongdoing in his meetings with the family and said he refused to sign the deal for Russia to provide nuclear energy, a plan that Zuma publicly backed.