Johannesburg – It is not necessary for President Jacob Zuma to explain his relationship with the Gupta family to the ANC, secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said on Monday.

“Did the president take us into his confidence about the relationship between [him] and the Gupta family? I’m not sure if that is necessary,” he told reporters in Johannesburg.

“It is not the business of the NEC [national executive committee] who I relate to in my personal capacity. The question is whether the relationship impacted on the behaviour of the family?”

He said the NEC had welcomed the report of the directors-general appointed to probe the unauthorised landing of a private jet chartered by the Guptas at the Waterkloof Air Force Base.

“The NEC agreed to wait for the report of the DGs as commissioned by the ministers in the security cluster…. The [African National Congress] welcomes the outcome of the investigation. We appreciate details contained in the report and clarity given,” he said.

“It provides the basic information on what happened. This will help the parliamentary debate on Wednesday. We are confident that the relevant ministers will take the process to its logical conclusion so that this incident does not repeat itself.”

The plane landed at the base last month. It was carrying 270 guests attending the wedding of Vega Gupta, 23, and Indian-born Aakash Jahajgarhia at Sun City, in North West.

The use of the Air Force Base sparked widespread criticism. The government launched an investigation into a possible breach of diplomatic protocol.

On Sunday, Justice Minister Jeff Radebe said Zuma and his Cabinet had no involvement in the landing.

Radebe said one of the findings of the investigation was that the landing was a direct result of manipulation of processes.

He said names had been “dropped” in the course of the probe, including those of Zuma, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and Transport Minister Ben Martins.

Mantashe denied that there was a conflict between himself and Zuma because of the landing. – Sapa