Van Rooyen’s financial advisers linked to Gupta family
SAXONWOLD – The Gupta family, based in Saxonwold, has once again allegedly been implicated in underhand dealings with President Jacob Zuma regarding the axing of Nhlanhla Nene and the subsequent replacement of him with Des van Rooyen.
Van Rooyen became the new finance minister on 10 December last year, aided by two unnamed advisers.
According to an investigative article in published by London-based news outlet, Africa Confidential – a specialist publication which focuses ‘on significant political, economic, and security developments across the continent’ – has now revealed the names of these mysterious advisers and has linked them directly to the Gupta family.
It is widely speculated that Nene was fired on 9 December last year as he was opposed to the R1-trillion nuclear power deal President Zuma struck with Russia, for which the Gupta’s would have been the main beneficiaries.
Nene was replaced by Van Rooyen the next day, advisers in tow.
The publication names the advisers as Mohamed Bobat and Ian Whitley, both of whom are reported to be closely associated with the Gupta family and their businesses.
