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South Africa elite police unit to investigate Zuma's son and Guptas

Thursday March 24 2016
guptas

Atul Gupta (left) and Ajay Gupta. South Africa's President Jacob Zuma’s son, Duduzane, and his father’s alleged friends, the Gupta family, are now under investigation for graft allegations. PHOTO | BBC

President Jacob Zuma’s son, Duduzane, and his father’s alleged friends, the Gupta family, are now under investigation for graft allegations after the opposition, Democratic Alliance (DA), opened a case.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane and MP David Maynier laid corruption charges against brothers Atul and Ajay Gupta as well as Duduzane Zuma at the Cape Town police station last Thursday.

This came after Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas’ claims that the Gupta family had offered him the plum job of Finance Minister following the axing of Nhlanhla Nene in December.

READ: Zuma under pressure as more influence peddling reports surface

The case has been handed over to the Hawks, a police unit that fights commercial crime.

Hawks spokesperson Robert Netshiunda confirmed the probe would begin immediately. “We have received the docket in the matter between the DA and the Guptas and we are to investigate it,” he said.

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Mr Maimane said it was apparent there was undue influence being exerted by the Guptas.

“Therefore it is quite criminal that the president feels it quite appropriate for him to go out of his way to allow the Guptas to make those appointments. It’s a betrayal of our democratic processes,” Maimane said.

President Zuma’s eldest son Edward has entered the fray and hit out at critics who claim members of his family have become rich because of the Guptas.

Columnist Max Du Preez this week wrote: “The fact that Zuma’s children and other clan members became very rich very quickly because of their and their father’s ties with the Guptas‚ even the embarrassing Waterkloof incident‚ did not do much damage to the Zuma/Gupta complex.”

Edward Zuma hit back in a candid statement, saying: “One has to state that I don’t have a relationship with the said family (Gupta) that is business-related‚ hence I am a self-made businessperson in my own right‚ not unless Du Preez is saying we aren't clever enough to be our own persons without the Guptas.”

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) has thrown its weight behind Mr Zuma, but said it will investigate the allegations by Mr Jonas.

READ: Beleaguered South Africa President Zuma gets fulsome ANC backing

The Guptas have said they will cooperate with the ANC as it conducts its investigation.

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