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While President Jacob Zuma and his son Duduzane try to separate themselves from the controversies surrounding their ties with the Gupta family in an alleged state corruption, another of his offspring, Mxolisi Saady has been linked to another corruption scandal.
Not long after charges were laid against Duduzane and the Guptas, Zuma’s son Mxolisi Saady Zuma has found himself roped in a case related to corruption.
According to the report, Mxolisi who is a brother to Duduzane, was accused of soliciting a bribe in order to sway a tender in a company’s favour using his connections to the government.
Buzzsouthafrica gathered that Mxolisi allegedly tried to broker a R54 million bribe with Altech UEC, a subsidiary of technology giant Altron, to help the company secure a TV set-top box contract
Two Altech UEC executives who wouldn’t want their names mentioned revealed that the company planned to bribe Mxolisi so he would use his father’s influence and power to direct the communication tender to their side.
“We were told that Mxolisi Saady would use his father’s influence to strong-arm the communications minister to swing the deal our way,” one of them said.
Altron group executive for marketing and communications Zipporah Maubane reportedly denied this claim saying: “When the digital terrestrial television set-top box tender was issued in 2014, Altech UEC was the only local company with the capability and capacity to manufacture the set-top boxes. Altech UEC submitted a bid.”
“No monies or fees were paid to any individual or party. Altech UEC did not win the tender” she said.
This is not the first time Mxolisi is mentioned in scandals that involve his father Jacob Zuma. In 2013, it was alleged that President Jacob Zuma intervened to support a major hydroelectric deal in Mozambique for which his son, Saady, was a lobbyist.
The viability of the proposed Mphanda Nkuwa hydropower project which had always sought the favour of Eskom to be its main source of electricity supply, ran to Saady for help when it found itself in a stark position when in 2010 they wanted South African decision-makers to favour their demand.
Mxolisi Saady reportedly succeeded when his father President Jacob Zuma came to his aid.
Saady is the older brother of twin siblings Duduzani and Duduzile. They were all born in exile in Mozambique.
Aside from Duduzane, another Zuma son Mxolisi Saady has been accused of ‘seeking bribe’ to clinch a deal that is worth R54 million.
