Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
International

'No Parliamentary Probe Into Indian Family In S. Africa'

The Canadian Press, 29 Mar, 2016 11:15 AM
    South African parliament can not conduct investigations into the alleged "state capture" by the Indian Gupta family, Moloto Mothapo, parliamentary spokesperson said on Monday.
     
    The allegations of "state capture" by the Guptas were being investigated by the special anti-crime unit Hawks and Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, following requests for investigations, Moloto Mothapo of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) was quoted by Xinhua.
     
    Therefore Parliament can not conduct investigations on a matter that was being looked into by other organs of state, Mothapo said.
     
    "Parliament should not find itself in a situation where it is conducting parallel investigations," he said.
     
    He was responding to a request by the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) that Parliament should investigate "patterns of state capture" by the wealthy Gupta family.
     
    Considering the severity of the claims of "state capture" and mounting evidence, Parliament must investigate this "as matter of urgency", the DA said on Sunday.
     
    The Gupta family, which allegedly keeps close ties with President Jacob Zuma, his family and ANC officials, has been accused of exerting undue influence on South Africa's state affairs by offering cabinet posts to ANC officials. The family has denied the accusation.
     
    DA Chief Whip John Steenhuisen claimed that ANC Chief Whip Jackson Mthembu had voiced support for calls to investigate "state capture" by the Gupta family.
     
    Steenhuisen said Mthembu has agreed to the DA's proposal for Parliament to institute an investigation into the alleged state influence by the Gupta family.
     
    However, Mothapo said Steenhuisen's claim was "imaginary and baseless".
     
    Mothapo said Mthembu never made such statements but merely stressed that, as a general principle, Parliament as a forum for public debates should never quash multiparty debates, but each proposed debate should be subjected to the established parliamentary process for consideration and a decision by all parties.
     
    "Only a delusional misapprehension would interpret this clear assertion (on parliamentary debates) to mean the ANC chief whip supports the DA's proposal for a 'parliamentary investigation' into alleged state influence by the Gupta family,"Mothapo said in a statement. 

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Two Indian-Americans Win $150000 Top Prize In Intel Science Talent Search Contest

    Two Indian-Americans Win $150000 Top Prize In Intel Science Talent Search Contest
    Breaking a three-year dry spell for Indian-Americans, two 17-year-old high school students have won the top prize of $150,000 with their medical-related projects in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search contest

    Two Indian-Americans Win $150000 Top Prize In Intel Science Talent Search Contest

    Obama Picks Judge Garland As Supreme Court Court Nominee Over Indian American Sri Srinivasan

    Obama Picks Judge Garland As Supreme Court Court Nominee Over Indian American Sri Srinivasan
    Obama's nominee Merrick Garland, 63, a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, is much older than Chandigarh-born Srinivasan and other contenders on his short list such as judges Paul Watford and Jane Kelly.

    Obama Picks Judge Garland As Supreme Court Court Nominee Over Indian American Sri Srinivasan

    Syrian Activist Say Senior Islamic State Leader Dead

    Syrian Activist Say Senior Islamic State Leader Dead
    US Army Col. Warren, told reporters on Friday that the airstrike that targeted al-Shishani was part of a series of coalition strikes targeting IS leadership.

    Syrian Activist Say Senior Islamic State Leader Dead

    Justin Trudeau Expected To Announce Canada Seeking UN Security Council Seat

    Justin Trudeau Expected To Announce Canada Seeking UN Security Council Seat
    Trudeau is in New York on Wednesday for meetings with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

    Justin Trudeau Expected To Announce Canada Seeking UN Security Council Seat

    Mother Teresa To Be Canonised On September 4: Pope

    Mother Teresa To Be Canonised On September 4: Pope
    The Pope during consistory of cardinals on Tuesday announced September 4 as the date for Mother Teresa's canonisation, the media reported.

    Mother Teresa To Be Canonised On September 4: Pope

    John McCallum Cautious On Report Of Russia Troop Withdrawal From Syria

    John McCallum Cautious On Report Of Russia Troop Withdrawal From Syria
    Reports of a Russian troop withdrawal from Syria could be good news for the country's desperate and suffering civilians searching for peace, Canada's immigration minister said Monday.

    John McCallum Cautious On Report Of Russia Troop Withdrawal From Syria