NPA ‘not ready’ for Gupta charges

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has rubbished weekend reports that it intends to charge the Gupta brothers and Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane soon, but gave assurances that investigations into state capture are at an advanced stage.

“That’s a truck load full of rubbish,” NPA spokesperson Luvuyo Mfaku said.

There is no indictment sitting on the national director’s desk, he added. “You do not have an indictment before you finalise investigations. You cannot conduct a search while you have an indictment sitting with you.

“An indictment is the product of a fully completed investigation. But we are on record as saying the investigation in respect of state of capture is at an advanced stage.

“And we are moving with speed in terms of ensuring that there is accountability.”

The national director and the head of the Hawks were last week briefed by the prosecution and investigation team, Mfaku said.

“I was part of that briefing and it was about the search warrants and the issues around them wanting to apply for search warrants.

“It was interrogated and they were satisfied on the grounds for that. They were authorised to go ahead, hence the searches were conducted.

“There was nothing about an indictment or names of who will be prosecuted. Their sources are discredited,” he charged.

But the Saturday Star, City Press and Sunday Times newspapers all reported yesterday that the publications had learnt of the arrests from reliable sources.

Regarding the Gupta family’s whereabouts, the Saturday Star quoted a source as saying: “We don’t foresee any suspect skipping the country. We are aware of that and made plans to mitigate against it.”