Zuma: I was never at the Gupta home with Vytjie Mentor

The former African National Congress (ANC) MP told the commission of inquiry into state capture that she was invited to a meeting by Zuma's former personal assistant, Lakela Kaunda, to meet with the head of state after she had requested a meeting several times.

She says to her shock, she was picked up at their airport by the Gupta brothers, who took her to their Sahara computers offices in Midrand and later to the Gupta home where Ajay Gupta offered her a ministerial position in return for favours. 

Mentor said Zuma was at the house and he calmed her down as she was upset that Gupta was offering her a position in government. 

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Zuma told the commission on Tuesday that he cannot remember any interaction with Mentor.

"I had no interaction with this witness, nothing."

Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo: "Have you ever been at the Gupta residence at the same time as her?"

Zuma: “No, never.”

Zondo: “Do you recall who Mrs. Mentor is?”

Zuma: “Yes, I recall.”

Zuma also denied being involved in the removal of former government communications head, Themba Maseko, who testified that Ajay Gupta had threated to tell senior government leaders that he will not cooperate with him.

At the time, Maseko said, Gupta had contacted him suggesting that the entire R600 million government budget on media and advertising be spent on the Gupta's newspaper The New Age, a suggestion Maseko declined. 

On Monday Zuma said he does not remember ever making a call to Maseko asking him to meet with Gupta and encouraging him to assist him with whatever he wanted.