EFF scolds the media for ignoring Nene’s lies

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have released a statement that continues their newfound campaign against Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene, in which it also takes to task “certain sections” of the media for allegedly failing to report on the fact that Nene had been caught out as a “liar.”

“Certain sections of the media, which are clearly controlled by a capitalist faction, want to ignore the fact that Nhlanhla Nene is a liar who previously said that he has never met with the Guptas,” the statement says.

Whether The Citizen is included among those the party accuses of ignoring the minister’s wrongdoings is unclear, but in our defence we did publish a story headline “Nene caught lying about Gupta meetings” on Wednesday already.

WATCH: Nene caught lying about Gupta meetings

Meanwhile, Nene himself apologised to the nation on Friday morning, admitting to “lapses in judgment” by not disclosing that he had met with the Guptas early enough but stopping short of admitting to lying.

The EFF has made no secret of their view that Nhlanhla Nene is not the “squeaky clean” saint amid captured politicians that South Africa once thought he was.

What they are less vocal about is the fact that until very recently they themselves seemed to be members of Nene’s support club.

READ MORE: Nene begs for SA’s forgiveness after not disclosing Gupta meetings

Nevertheless, we welcome changes in finance; the appointment of Nhlanhla Nene is a reaffirmation of confidence in black and African leadership. #CabinetReshuffle

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) February 26, 2018

Both the party and its leader, Julius Malema, appear to have amnesia about the many times they praised Nene in the past, the most recent example of which appears to have been in February, and have tweeted that they actually “tried to warn” South Africa about the finance minister.

"We warned you about Nhlanhla Nene" CIC @Julius_S_Malema pic.twitter.com/9uVjwA7pru

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) October 1, 2018

We warned about Nhlanhla Nene, and the mob attacked us.

— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) September 30, 2018

Now they have released a statement following a report in the Mail & Guardian questioning the role of the Public Investment Corporaton (PIC), which Nene chaired at the time, in a deal involving his son Siyabonga Nene.

READ MORE: EFF slams Nene’s ‘extremely arrogant’ ‘lies’ at Zondo inquiry

The statement says the Mail & Guardian has exposed “the first” of Nene’s “shenanigans,” going on to say that his actions as finance minister “border on corruption”.

The statement goes on to repeat earlier claims made by the EFF about Nene avoiding their correspondence.

ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS STATEMENT ON THE LATEST REVELATIONS ABOUT NHLANHLA NENE pic.twitter.com/rUnV2hGR4y

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) October 5, 2018

Following a week in which the reputation of Nene received a blow after he was caught lying in an eNCA clip about having met the Guptas while deputy finance minister, a report by amaBhungane and the Mail & Guardian looks into the finance minister’s alleged involvement in a deal involving the minister’s son and an oil refinery in Mozambique.

According to the report, a business partner of Siyabonga Nene, the finance minister’s son, earned millions from a deal made while Nene was chairperson of the PIC.

Nene’s role in the deal, linked to businessman Momande Rassul Rahim, who was arrested for alleged money laundering, tax evasion and smuggling last year, is now being questioned.

More on the report can be read here.

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