State capture: DA in legal bid
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is considering legal action against President Jacob Zuma, the Gupta family and others implicated in “undermining the state”, says DA leader Mmusi Maimane.
“What has emerged ... is the existence of concrete proof confirming what South Africans have known for some time: the ANC has created, aided, and sponsored a shadow criminal state in South Africa led by the Guptas and the Zumas,” he said.
City Press and the Sunday Times yesterday published details of apparently damning e-mails showing that the wealthy, politically connected Gupta family “run South Africa”.
Maimane said an array of Cabinet ministers, state entities and public officials had “systematically sold off South Africa to a small cabal of foreigners who are on our shores for one reason – to loot our country of its resources in order to makes themselves rich. This should anger anyone who hates injustice and cares about the future of our country.
“The DA has consulted our lawyers with a view to taking legal action against Jacob Zuma, the Gupta family, implicated cabinet ministers, public officials, [stateowned enterprise] executives and board members, and any other individuals who have acted to undermine the state.
“We believe there are a host of charges of the most serious order, including grand corruption, undermining of state sovereignty and various statutory offences, including the leaking of classified information and undue influence in the awarding of government contracts,” he said.
The reports revealed “written proof in the form of a string of e-mails which confirm that South Africa has been captured by the Guptas”.
From handpicking Cabinet ministers to appointing heads of SOEs, to winning multibillion-rand government contracts, the Guptas and the Zumas had manipulated power to create a “shadow criminal state” which operated to enrich a few.
Moreover, it was revealed that Zuma had been putting in place an exit strategy – with the help of the Guptas – to relocate to the United Arab Emirates after he “is finished raiding the country of its very last cent”.
“It is clear that as the Gupta capture scandals continue to grow, a judicial commission of inquiry, recommended by former public protector Thuli Madonsela, must be established to investigate this matter and ensure that this corruption on an unprecedented scale is stopped once and for all.
“[Sunday’s] revelations make it clear as to why Jacob Zuma is opposing the public protector’s recommendations in court.
“While nine million South Africans have lost hope in ever finding work and millions more are trapped in abject poverty, the ANC allows this Gupta-headed heist of our country to proceed unabated,” Maimane said. –