Gupta family - The African Mirror

Mar

2022

Interpol red notice: what it means and why South Africa requested it

THE International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has issued a red notice for two members of the wealthy but now disgraced Gupta family, Atul and Rajesh Gupta. This could now pave way for their arrest and extradition from the United Arab Emirates to face fraud and money laundering charges in South Africa. The Guptas – who at their height owned a business empire spanning computer equipment, media, and mining – are close friends of former President Jacob Zuma. A judicial commission of inquiry into state capture recently found that, with Zuma’s help, they orchestrated massive corruption. Thabo Leshilo asked Bernadine Benson…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

Gupta ally, Sharma refused bail

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER IQBAL Sharma, the businessman with strong ties to the Gupta family was today denied bail and will remain in custody until his next appearance. Magistrate Estelle de Lange ruled that it was in the interest of justice that Sharma, who is facing charges of fraud and money laundering, should remain in jail. De Lange said if convicted, Sharma, a first time offender, faced a 15 year jail sentence for one of the charges he faces. Ahead of the Magistrate’s verdict, State prosecutor Peter Serunya argued that Sharma would not stand trial if released on bail. Serunya argued…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

NPA seizes R520-million in Gupta assets

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER The multi-million rand mansion in Saxonworld, Johannesburg and a house in Constantia, Cape Town, owned by the Gupta family are among the assets worth R520-million seized by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) today following a court order. The NPA's Investigations Directorate was today granted an interim order by the Bloemfontein High Court to seize and preserve the assets of the family, including those owned by their business associates. Properties seized include the Morningside, Johannesburg house owned by Iqbal Sharma and his wife Tarina Patel, the Gupta business associate who is in jail, pending a bail application. The…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

How Guptas got billions in income and kickbacks

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER WHILE companies linked to them earned more than R49-billion, the Gupta family received a further R15.9-billion in kickbacks from third parties who got contracts from the South African government and state-owned companies as a result of the family’s political influence. These revelations were made at the judicial commission into state capture, corruption and theft by Paul Holden, a director at Shadow World Investigations. Holden outlined to the commission, chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, the flow of money from government department, state-owned enterprises to over 200 companies. He has analysed thousands of banking transactions, accounts that…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

Over R49-billion paid to Gupta-linked companies

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER SEVERAL departments and enterprises owned by the South African government paid over R49-billion to 200 companies linked to the Gupta family, accused of being at the centre of state capture. This was contained in the evidence presented to the judicial commission into state capture, corruption and theft by Paul Holden, a director at Shadow World Investigations. Holden’s probe revealed that billions flowed from government departments and state-owned enterprises to companies linked to the Gupta family, who fled SA and are now based in Dubai. The companies that received the money include McKinsey, KPMG, PwC, Estina, Sunbay Trading…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

UK imposes sanctions on Guptas

NEWS

ANDREW MacASKILL BRITAIN has imposed sanctions on 14 Russians, on the Gupta family of South African businessmen and on officials accused of aiding Central American drugs cartels, in the first use of a new power to fight human rights abuses and corruption abroad. Britain's new Magnitsky act, like a similar law enacted in the United States, is named after Sergei Magnitsky, a lawyer who was arrested and later died in prison in Russia after accusing Russian officials of massive tax fraud. The new law gives the government the power to penalise those it says are credibly involved in the most…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Guptas, Myeni paid for Gigabas honeymoons

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER FORMER South African Airways chairperson Dudu Myeni paid for the pre-honeymoon in Mauritius and the Gupta family paid for the Dubai honeymoon of the then cabinet minister Malusi Gigaba and his wife Norma in Mauritius. This was disclosed by Norma during her testimony at the judicial commission of inquiry into state capture, chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. Norma’s testimony took place after attempts by her estranged husband to have it heard in camera was dismissed by Zondo. The couple are in the middle of a divorce. Norma disclosed to the commission before travelling to Mauritius,…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Gigaba’s wife summoned to testify

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER NORMA Gigaba, the estranged wife of former South African finance minister Malusi Gigaba has been summoned to testify at the judicial commission of inquiry into state capture after her 11th-hour cancellation of a scheduled appearance. Norma’s lawyer Gcwalisile Makhathini yesterday told Deputy Judge President Raymond Zondo that her decision to withdraw her participation in the commission. Makhathini said her client was not happy with how the commission has handled her scheduled appearance. Her withdrawal follows notice from her husband that he intended to apply for his wife’s testimony to be heard in camera. Norma’s testimony was expected…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

Commission probing state capture adopts hardline stance against ex-president Zuma

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER A special judicial commission set up to investigate allegations of fraud, corruption and the capture of the state by corrupt individuals, civil servants and politicians is taking steps to force former South African President Jacob Zuma to appear before it. Deputy Judge President Raymond Zondo, head of the Zondo Commission of Inquiry, disclosed today, the day that Zuma was scheduled to appear, that he will hear an application from the commission's legal team to issue summonses against Zuma. This comes after Zuma wrote to the commission and said he would not be able to appear because of…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

How corruption in South Africa is deeply rooted in the country’s past and why that matters

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

STEVEN FRIEDMAN, Professor of Political Studies, University of Johannesburg WHEN South Africans express shock at corruption, few seem to know that it is perhaps the country’s oldest tradition. Citizen anger about corruption, a constant theme in South African political debate, reacts to a very real problem. This was underlined recently by news that well-connected people had enriched themselves at the expense of efforts to contain COVID-19. What is not real is the widespread belief that corruption is both new and easy to fix. Reactions to corruption portray it as a product of African National Congress (ANC) rule (or majority rule…