US imposes sanctions on Gupta brothers, associate Essa

The US Treasury yesterday announced sanctions on the Gupta family and associate Salim Essa, calling them a “significant corruption network” that dispersed bribes and misappropriated millions in state funds.

“The Gupta family leveraged its political connections to engage in widespread corruption and bribery, capture government contracts and misappropriate state assets,” said Treasury under-secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence Sigal Mandelker.

Specifically, the US office of foreign assets control designated Ajay Gupta, Atul Gupta, Rajesh Gupta and Salim Essa for their involvement in corruption in SA pursuant to executive order 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, the announcement said.

Essa became widely known in the media as the “Gupta Lieutenant”.

“Treasury’s designation targets the Guptas’ pay-to-play political patronage, which was orchestrated at the expense of the South African people,” Mandelker said.

“Today’s sanctions announcement demonstrates the US government’s unwavering commitment to supporting the rule of law and accountability in South Africa.

“We support the anticorruption efforts of South Africa’s independent judiciary, law enforcement agencies, and the ongoing judicial commissions of inquiry.

“Moreover, we commend the extraordinary work by South Africa’s civil society activists, investigative journalists and whistleblowers, who have exposed the breadth and depth of the Gupta family’s corruption.”

Treasury’s designation targets the Guptas’ pay-to-play political patronage.

Sigal Mandelker Under-secretary US Treasury