Outa lays high treason charges against Mosebenzi Zwane

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) on Monday laid charges of high treason against Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane at the Randburg Police Station in Johannesburg for actively aiding state capture and causing massive financial loss to South Africa.

The non-profit civil action organisation said the charges against the minister – which included corruption, extortion, fraud and theft – emanated from its dossier on state capture “No room to hide: A President caught in the act” released in June.

“President Zuma’s appointment and retention of Zwane as Minister of Mineral Resources evidences his use of presidential powers to promote and protect the interests of the Guptas and their business associates, including the President’s son, Duduzane Zuma,” said Outa’s chief operating officer Ben Theron in an affidavit.

Among the charges Zwane faces under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act related to the controversial Free State Vrede dairy project, which allegedly benefited the Guptas when he was an MEC for agriculture and rural development in the province.

Furthermore, allegations that Zwane abused his position by helping the family purchase Optimum Coal Mine from Glencore in December 2015 and his role in arranging the landing of the Guptas’ wedding flight at Waterkloof Air Force Base in 2013 are included in the charges

Last week, Outa also laid treason charges against former communications minister Faith Muthambi based on information contained in the #GuptaEmails showing she had purportedly shared confidential Cabinet information with the Guptas.

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