Atul Gupta
The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Thursday laid a charge of corruption against the Gupta family and a family member of President Jacob Zuma.
“We have laid a charge against the two [Gupta] brothers and Duduzane Zuma,” said DA leader Mmusi Maimane in Cape Town.
The charge, under the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Activities Act, lists President Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane and Atul and Rajesh (Tony) Gupta.
The charge comes one day after Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas’ revelation confirming he was offered the then-Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene’s position by the Guptas.
Jonas, late on Wednesday afternoon, said he could no longer remain silent while the state was in the process of being captured. Maimane said that South Africans had voted for the African National Congress (ANC) and not the Guptas to run the country.
“It’s quite criminal that President Zuma thinks it is appropriate for him to allow the Guptas to make appointments for him,” said Maimane. “And the ANC are complicit in this grand state capture. They found a president who could be easily bought.”
Zuma is scheduled to answer questions from MPs in the National Assembly at 2pm on Thursday.
Although not directly linked to the Guptas, Maimane has submitted a question relating to the appointment of Des Van Rooyen as Finance Minister. Maimane said the question was important as it “frames the Gupta’s involvment”.
He said the DA wanted Zuma to admit to the nature and extent of his relationship with the Guptas.
Revelations
Jonas’ confirmation was one of several revelations since Monday.
First, was former African National Congress (ANC) member of Parliament (MP) Vytjie Mentor saying she was offered the position of Minister of Public Enterprise. This, if she agreed to give the Guptas’ airline the South African Airways route to India.
ANC veteran Barbara Hogan also admitted to feeling pressurised by Zuma into making key appointments during her tenure as public enterprises minister.
“There could be more,” said Maimane of possible additional offers made by the Guptas. “We want to know if they were appointed by Union Buildings, Tuynhuis, or Saxonworld.” – African News Agency (ANA)