The government needs to act urgently on policy contradictions and uncertainties to create a suitable environment for the private sector to invest more than R1-trillion in cash reserves. Picture: GCIS
Picture: GCIS

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THE South African Communist Party (SACP) believes yet another Cabinet shuffle inspired by the politically connected Gupta family is in the offing, this time with Trade and Industry Rob Davies in the firing line.

The SACP said in a statement on Thursday that it had "learnt reliably from several sources" that Mr Davies was being targeted due to the family’s interest in acquiring a stake in the ArcelorMittal’s embattled local operations. The SACP would be raising the issue and that of broader state capture with alliance partners, the statement read.

This is just the latest in a series of allegations by high-ranking tripartite alliance officials against the Gupta family and President Jacob Zuma. Former public enterprise minister Barbara Hogan on Thursday intimated that "shadowy forces" were involved in her 2010 removal from the Cabinet, while former African National Congress (ANC) MP Vytjie Mentor has said she was allegedly offered of that Cabinet position in the days leading up to Ms Hogan’s removal.

Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas on Wednesday confirmed widespread speculation that the Gupta family had offered him the position of finance minister in the days leading up to the removal of then minister Nhlanhla Nene.

Business Leadership SA on Thursday called for Mr Zuma to respond "decisively" to the allegations.

"Our government, the critical institutions of our democracy and indeed the citizenry of our country must choose between being a society governed by law or one captured and directed by private interests," the statement read.

Mr Nene on Thursday told Reuters he was unable to help them with their inquiries.

Mr Davies, who is a member of both the SACP central committee and the ANC national executive committee on Thursday described Mr Jonas as a man of "integrity and honesty" during a media briefing in Cape Town.

With Reuters, TMG Digital