Gigaba’s excuses for Guptas being fast-tracked

The granting of naturalisation certificates of this nature is not unusual. Home affairs

Former home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba came under fire for fast-tracking the Guptas’ naturalisation during his tenure in 2015 after it was initially denied.

Speaking on the denial of citizenship, home affairs director-general Mkuseli Apleni explained yesterday that “it was rejected due to the fact that Mrs S Gupta, wife, and Mrs A Gupta, mother, did not meet the residential requirements”.

“The other three met the requirements, however, because as a family they did not meet the requirements. Mr Gupta and the two children did qualify.”

Their application, adjudicated on December 23, 2014, was, however, rejected as they had applied as a family.

Gigaba has previously denied to having acted unlawfully when he granted the family the required naturalisation certificates.

The EFF announced it would approach the courts to have “Gigaba’s favours” corrected.

But Gigaba said that “the granting of naturalisation certificates of this nature is not unusual”.

“Similar courtesies have been extended to prominent businessmen, including executives of multinationals, and sports people,” his office said.

“There is no impropriety on the part of the minister in relation to how the application in question has been handled.”

Parliament’s portfolio committee chairperson Lemias Mashile last week confirmed there would be an opportunity to interrogate both Gigaba and current Minister Buhle Mkhize “about exactly how members of the Gupta family were naturalised”. But both failed to show yesterday.