Right, back to the State Capture report and the ensuing fallout.
First of all best you’re up to speed with this morning’s breakdown of the juiciest bits from yesterday’s big reveal (HERE), which includes the dodgy connection between Eskom CEO Brian Molefe and the Gupta family.
At a press conference today Molefe lashed out at Thuli Madonsela’s findings, although his excuse is one for the ages.
Over to Fin24:
Molefe broke down in tears as he hit back at these details in the report.
“My cellphone reflects that I was in Saxonwold 14 times, close to the head of proverbial goats. My cellphone reflects I was in the area,” said Molefe.
“There’s a shebeen there, two streets away from the Gupta(s). I will not admit or deny that I’ve gone to the shebeen.
“But there is a shebeen there,” a tearful Molefe added.
He then alleged that the public protector failed to get sufficient answers from him on the claims levelled against him.
“In my case the public protector has painted me with a corrupt brush,” he said.
News24 with more from Molefe:
When a person is known to be a goat thief, if one day you see him walking next to a heard of goats, it does not mean he is a goat thief. That is what our Constitution is about – you must be heard. But what surprises me is that the Public Protector says my cellphone shows I was in Saxonwold 14 times, I was there in the area…
I will not admit or deny that I went to a shebeen in the area – because my young wife is not aware that there is a shebeen there…
I live in Irene in Pretoria. I come to work on the N1 and back. The Olifantsfontein turnoff is near a Teasers – so my cellphone records will then show I was close to uncomfortably Teasers when I just used that turnoff – I am captured by the Constitution – I should have been heard.
Look, no one likes to see a grown man break down in tears and talk about how his children will now be taunted at school.
But explain this then Brian – why do cellphone records show that yourself and Ajay Gupta exchanged 58 calls in eight months between 2015 and 2016?
Does he know the barman at the shabeen, and you wanted to skip the queue at the door? It’s not the most pressing question floating around that needs to be answered, but I’d certainly be all ears.
