Fana Hlongwane’s alleged role in Zuptagate must be investigated by the Hawks 

03 April 2016 

I will write to Major-General ZL Mnonopi, the Component Head, Serious Corruption, at the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (“Hawks”), drawing her attention to the fact that Fana Hlongwane may be able to assist her investigation into charges of corruption against Atul Gupta, Ajay Gupta and Duduzane Zuma, in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (No. 12 of 2004).

An article, published in the Sunday Times on 03 April 2016, claims that Fana Hlongwane, who was at the centre of the arms deal scandal, allegedly brokered the meeting between the Deputy Minister of Finance, Mcebisi Jonas, where members of the Gupta family allegedly offered him the position of Finance Minister, prior to the firing of the former Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene, on 09 December 2015.

If Fana Hongwane was the “fixer” who brokered the alleged meeting, he may be able to assist the investigation, being conducted by the Hawks, as a result of the charges of corruption laid by myself against Atul Gupta, Ajay Gupta and Duduzane Zuma, in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (No. 12 of 2004), at a police station in Cape Town, on 17 March 2016.

The Deputy Minister of Finance, Mcebisi Jonas, has not confirmed or denied the allegation that Fana Hlongwane was the “fixer”. However, if Fana Hlongwane was the “fixer”, the Deputy Minister is going to have to explain how a person who holds high office, such as himself, came to be associated with a controversial person, who was at the centre of the arms deal scandal. 

The fact that Fana Hlongwane may have been involved could go some way to explaining why the Deputy Minister has refused to make a public statement, setting out all the particulars relating to his alleged meeting with Gupta family members, on or about 27 November 2015.

Statement issued by David Maynier MP, DA Shadow Minister of Finance, 3 April 2016