Bid to strip Ajay Gupta of residency status

HOME Affairs has launched proceedings to strip the permanent residency status of Ajay Gupta, one of the linchpins of the controversial Gupta family accused of corruption, an official said yesterday.

Ajay, a fugitive sought by police over alleged graft, now faces the prospect of losing access to banking facilities as well as his South African identity papers if his residency is rescinded.

Ajay is one of the three Indian-born Gupta brothers who are being investigated by police over corruption allegations.

Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba had discussed the possibility of revoking Ajay’s residency with President Cyril Ramaphosa, his spokesman, Mayihlome Tshwete, said.

“Since then, he has instructed the director-general of home affairs to investigate the legal environment for that to happen.”

Gigaba has had a torrid week after insisting that Ajay’s brother, Atul, was not a South African citizen, only to be contradicted by the election commission, which confirmed he was a citizen who was listed on the electoral register.

Gigaba then skipped a sitting of parliament on Wednesday at which he had been due to answer MPs’ questions, citing illness. Tax officials in India last week raided Gupta properties in their former hometown as part of a money-laundering probe.

Last month, South African authorities raided Gupta properties in Johannesburg as part of an ongoing investigation.

Ajay was declared a fugitive from justice after failing to respond to a summons.

Thirteen other people are facing charges linked to allegations that the Guptas embezzled millions of rands of public money meant for poor dairy farmers.

They are also accused of receiving highly favourable government contracts during Jacob Zuma’s presidency.