Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba will not resign over the sexual
video scandal. Gigaba says he was contacted
by someone demanding R5 million for a video which was intercepted from his
cellphone shortly after he was appointed finance minister.
Gigaba has suggested that the leaked video of him engaging
in a sexual act was a political attempt to assassinate his character as the ANC
compiles its list of MPs ahead of next year’s elections.
Gigaba’s tweets on Sunday laid bare his feelings on the
leaked video and the extortion attempt.
He tweeted: “My wife and I have learnt, with regret and
sadness, that a video containing material of a sexual nature, meant for our
eyes only, which was stolen when my communication got illegally intercepted/my
phone hacked, in 2016/17, is circulating among certain political figures
“I take this opportunity to publicly apologise, in advance,
to the rest of my family - especially my kids, my mom and my in-laws - and the
South African public for the pain and embarrassment the likely wider distribution
of this private material will cause”
Gigaba is alone in the 13-second video in which the
minister is seen playing with his penis with his hand while saying: “Imagine if
this is in your mouth.”
Gigaba’s spin doctor Vuyo Mkhize said Gigaba was a victim
of a smear campaign to discredit him politically.
Gigaba has turned to Mkhize’s company Kapital Mindz to
respond to media queries.
Mkhize said Gigaba first told him about the video in May
2016, seeking his advice.
“The only thing that stands out is that the ANC is going
through this list process but that is not to say (I am) categorically stating
that is the motivation behind the sudden leaking of this,” he said.
Mkhize said the video was circulating among “political
circles” within and outside the ANC.
He said Gigaba had been alerted on Saturday that the video
would be released yesterday.
Mkhize said Gigaba first became aware that someone was in
possession of the video soon after ex-president Jacob Zuma had appointed him
finance minister last year.
“He started receiving anonymous calls from someone claiming
to have this footage and that he had to pay R5million if he did not want the
video to be released,” said Mkhize.
Mkhize said Gigaba reported the matter to the police, who
didn't open a case because he couldn't identify the caller.
Mkhize said that when it became clear that Gigaba wasn't
going to pay, the caller, an isiZulu-speaking man, said: “Let’s do a trade. I
will identify opportunities in certain places, and you will have to facilitate
them as a way of paying me to keep quiet.” Star
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