Business FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016 Startup makes virtual reality Bank of England leaves Interest rates on hold intuitive with eye-tracking PAGE 40 PAGE 41 CAPE TOWN: Shock revelations about a wealthy Indian family’s interference in South African government affairs set embattled President Jacob Zuma up for a high-pressure appearance in parliament. — AFP Zuma under pressure in new graft scandal Indian family interference still a crippling issue CAPE TOWN: Shock revelations about a Business Day reported. about this so boldly now shows that things are drawal of foreign investment. Nene was wealthy Indian family’s interference in South The newspaper quoted the message from an going to change.” replaced by little-known lawmaker David van African government affairs set embattled unnamed businessman as reading: “Please keep Rooyen, who was widely seen as a weak place- President Jacob Zuma up for a high-pressure your own counsel. Martyrdom is best left to Economic woes man for Zuma loyalists such as the Guptas. appearance in parliament yesterday. Christ.” In his statement on Wednesday, Jonas The ANC, which led the struggle to end His appointment caused such a negative The admission by deputy finance minister said: “Members of the Gupta family offered me apartheid, holds a meeting of its national exec- reaction that Zuma sacked him after just four Mcebisi Jonas that he was offered the top job in the position of Minister of Finance to replace utive committee starting today, where the days and reappointed Pravin Gordhan, who the treasury by the Gupta family caused out- then-minister Nene. I rejected this out of hand.” Gupta issue is likely to dominate. The official served as finance minister from 2009 to 2014. rage in a country already alarmed by a series of The Guptas, who had attracted controversy a opposition party in parliament, the Democratic Gordhan is leading efforts to try to restore con- corruption scandals. The Gupta brothers Ajay, few years ago by flying in wedding guests at Alliance (DA) said the latest developments fidence in the economy and avoid a downgrade Atul and Rajesh were smalltime businessmen the Waterkloof air base which is normally make Zuma’s position “increasingly untenable”. of the country’s debt to junk status by the rat- back home but have built up a string of compa- reserved for visiting heads of state and diplo- “He, and the ANC, need to consider whether ings agencies. nies with interests in computers, mining, media matic delegations, issued a statement denying he should resign from office, or be recalled.” Another ANC member, Vytjie Mentor, also and engineering since moving to South Africa Jonas’s claims. But even the ruling African The party said it would lay corruption charges alleged this week that she was offered a cabinet in the 1990s. National Congress (ANC) has expressed concern against the Gupta family. Zuma faces parlia- post by the Guptas-an accusation that Zuma They have long been accused of wielding about the graft allegations, amid speculation ment for a scheduled question time later yester- denied. The Guptas are also alleged to have undue influence over Zuma, whose son that the president’s position at the head of the day, where he will meet a barrage of questions- determined the appointment of other govern- Duduzane is a partner in some of their business- party could be fatally weakened. including on the country’s dire economic situa- ment figures, including minister of mines es. Zuma’s third wife also used to work for “We need to deal with this; it will degenerate tion. The alleged job offer to Jonas occurred Mosebenzi Zwane. Zuma, a veteran political them. Jonas said he received a threatening text into a mafia state if this goes on,” ANC before Zuma sacked respected finance minister survivor whose term in office ends in 2019, has message while he was preparing his statement Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe told Nhlanhla Nene in December-a move that trig- previously defended his friendship with the exposing the job offer by the Guptas, the Bloomberg News. “The fact we are talking gered a collapse in the rand and massive with- Guptas. — AFP .