Home Affairs Minister Ayanda Dlodlo. Picture Phumlani Thabethe Date 06 August 2015
Following the #GuptaEmails revelations published earlier today, Minister of Communications Ayanda Dlodlo told The Citizen “there was nothing untoward” about Fana Hlongwane paying her hotel bills.
The Sowetan revealed today that although her hotel booking was secured by Sahara Computers, the bill was settled by Hlongwane. The minister explained she and Hlongwane had a long-standing relationship dating back to when they were children.
Hlongwane is a mysterious business figure and has been dubbed the “arms-deal fixer”. He was recently also implicated in former public protector Thuli Madonsela’s State of Capture report released in late 2016.
Despite the exposé, Dlodlo is steadfast in her belief that there was no wrongdoing on her part.
Speaking through acting Cabinet spokesperson and acting director-general of government communication Phumla Williams, Dlodlo told The Citizen: “Her [Dlodlo] relationship with Fana and his family does not extend to his business associates.”
In distancing her from Hlongwane’s business associates, presumably the Guptas, Williams urged South Africans to “judge [Dlodlo] on her work, and that we believe will speak for itself”.
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