Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises Ben Martins says he met members of the Gupta family regarding the possible removal of Prasa board members.
Martins says he met Tony Gupta to resolve concerns raised by former board chairperson of Prasa, who is now the Deputy Minister of Finance, Sfiso Buthelezi and former CEO, Lucky Montana during their tenure at the entity.
He says the two felt that they were going to be removed from their positions because of the Gupta family’s influence. Martins at the time he was the Minister of Transport.
He has however denied meeting the family over the case of ousted Eskom CEO Brian Molefe.
“I’ve had an occasion to meet Tony Gupta he once came to my house with Lukcy Montana government house in Pretoria that was to discuss a matter relevant to transport at that stage there was an issue regarding the changing or renewal of the board and Lucky Montana and Sfiso Buthelezi wrote me a letter in regard to that matter saying that there was an influence from the Gupta to remove them,” says Martins.
