Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
International

South African Opposition To Lay Criminal Charges Against Indian-Origin Gupta Family

IANS, 21 Mar, 2016 12:44 PM
    South African opposition, The Democratic Alliance (DA), threatened on Sunday to lay criminal charges against an Indian family "for what now amounts to further prima facie evidence of an attempt to improperly benefit from public resources".
     
    This followed media reports on Sunday that former Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) CEO, Themba Maseko, was called by President Jacob Zuma prior to a meeting with the Gupta family form India in Jonnesburg and asked to "help them", Xinhua reported.
     
    At the meeting, it is alleged that the Guptas wanted government advertising to be channelled to The New Age newspaper run by the Gupta family.
     
    The DA said it will write to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela to request her to include the latest shocking revelations by Maseko in her investigation into Zuma and the Guptagate scandal.
     
    "This latest information regarding Gupta attempts to channel information to their newspaper may now explain why it is that the Department of Communications spent more than 10 million rand ($640,000) on advertising in The New Age in 2013/14. This amounts to 11.2 percent of government ad spend across 248 publications," the DA claimed.
     
    The party said it will continue to pursue all possible steps available to ensure that this attempt at "State Capture" by the Gupta family -- aided and abetted by Zuma -- is halted and justice is obtained.
     
    The former chair of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, Vytjie Mentor, publicly revealed recently that she was offered the job of Minister of Public Enterprises by the Guptas on conditions that she "drops the SAA (South African Airways) flight-route to India and give to them".
     
     
    Mentor further alleged that Zuma was on the Guptas Saxonwold premises in Johannesburg at the time, in a room next door.
     
    Mentor's utterances have led to several African National Congress members speaking out on similar encounters with the Guptas, including Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas, Public Service and Administration Minister Ngoako Ramathlodi and former Public Enterprises Minister Barbara Hogan.
     
    A group of Catholic priests and brothers in Southern Africa, known as the Dominican Order, also requested the Public Protector to conduct a systemic investigation into the alleged involvement of the Gupta family in South African state affairs and the award of contracts to companies linked to the family.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Sarah Palin's Husband Todd Palin Expected To Recover From Snowmobile Accident

    Sarah Palin's Husband Todd Palin Expected To Recover From Snowmobile Accident
     An associate of Todd Palin says Sarah Palin's husband is expected to recover from a snowmobile accident in Alaska that left him hospitalized.

    Sarah Palin's Husband Todd Palin Expected To Recover From Snowmobile Accident

    Todd Palin Injured In AK Snowmobile Accident; Hospitalized

    Todd Palin Injured In AK Snowmobile Accident; Hospitalized
     Donald Trump's presidential campaign says that Todd Palin, husband of Sarah Palin, has been "in a bad snow machine accident" Sunday night and is hospitalized.

    Todd Palin Injured In AK Snowmobile Accident; Hospitalized

    Toys 'R' Us Canada Names 12-Year-Old Boy From Quebec As New 'Chief Play Officer'

    Toys 'R' Us Canada Names 12-Year-Old Boy From Quebec As New 'Chief Play Officer'
    His job is to try out products, make recommendations and take part in media appearances and events.

    Toys 'R' Us Canada Names 12-Year-Old Boy From Quebec As New 'Chief Play Officer'

    Tuesday Primaries Key To Republicans As Donald Trump Sees End Game

    Tuesday Primaries Key To Republicans As Donald Trump Sees End Game
    Republican front-runner Donald Trump faces a week of critical primary elections that could see his political dominance grow at the risk of even wider party divisions in one of the most chaotic presidential campaigns in generations.

    Tuesday Primaries Key To Republicans As Donald Trump Sees End Game

    Former Pakistani Diplomat Husain Haqqani Not To Attend Delhi Litfest

    Former Pakistani Diplomat Husain Haqqani Not To Attend Delhi Litfest
    Citing visa issue as the reason for Haqqani's absence, organisers said that noted Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin will fill his place in the festival.

    Former Pakistani Diplomat Husain Haqqani Not To Attend Delhi Litfest

    Donald Trump Considers Paying Legal Bills For Man Charged At Rally

    Donald Trump Considers Paying Legal Bills For Man Charged At Rally
    When asked whether he'd financially back the supporter, who was arrested and charged with assault, Trump says he's "instructed my people to look into it, yes."

    Donald Trump Considers Paying Legal Bills For Man Charged At Rally