Guptas? No, never met

– Most of the country’s Cabinet ministers have claimed to have never met President Jacob Zuma’s friends, the wealthy Gupta family.

In written replies to parliamentary replies dating back to early last year, 94% of ministers have denied any involvement with the Gupta family.

The remainder have claimed they saw them at social functions or at their Saxonwold home where government-related only issues were discussed. Others, like Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu, didn’t even respond.

The public protector’s State of Capture report has shown otherwise and implicates government leaders in leaning towards Gupta family interference in the affairs of the state.

Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies said in his reply that he met with a “wide spectrum of prominent stakeholders” as they may benefit the agenda of the department.

“On the few occasions that any conversations took place between the minister and representatives of the family, the content was general and no specific projects were discussed,” he said.

He added that he accepted an invitation to attend the wedding of a Gupta family member “as it potentially presented an unexpected but welcome opportunity to informally meet with his then Indian counterpart”, but he “regrettably” couldn’t attend.

Claimed Gupta affiliates like the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Des van Rooyen and Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane have denied meeting the family.

“Both denied having met with members of the Gupta family, despite the public protector’s State of Capture report providing concrete evidence to the contrary,” said DA leader Mmusi Maimane, adding that phone records and flight details flew in the face of the replies.

“What has become quite clear from the answers provided is that the Gupta project of state capture is an ANC project – fully endorsed and supported by the majority in the ANC.

“This is why ministers are forced to dodge questions, or provide flimsy and equivocal answers to direct questions,” he said.

The DA has laid criminal charges against the Gupta family in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act and the Hawks are investigating.

The DA has given Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa 14 days to ensure that minsters toe the line and provide answers to outstanding, vague and insufficient answers to parliamentary questions.

“The DA will continue to expose the capture of state institutions by President Zuma and his gang of cronies.”

Cape Town