Mantashe and his family receive threats

Minister goes to court after abuse from people who believe claims by mining activist Zakhele Zuma that a mine paid him R40m

- By Ngwako Malatji and Mawande AmaShabalala

Minister of Minerals and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe fears for his and his family’s safety after receiving threats from people who believed allegations by self-proclaimed mining rights activist Zakhele Zuma that he stole R40-million from mineworkers.

Mantashe, who is the national chairperson of the ANC, revealed this in an urgent application he filed in the Johannesburg High Court for an order to interdict Zuma from making such allegations against him.

“I feel threatened by the people who believe the lies that Mr Zuma is propagating, as they will believe that I took their money.

“These statements are intended to mean, and were understood by those who heard them or read them to mean, that I received R40000000, which belongs to the miners, and I kept it for myself. Not only are these allegations false, but they also expose me and my family to danger because I live adjacent to mining communities and I interact with them all the time.

“As a minister of one of the most important departments, these spurious and defamatory allegations have created a bad atmosphere and a level of distrust among officials and the stakeholders,” he stated.