DA requests progress report from Public Protector on Gupta investigation

29 August 2016

Following this weekend’s revelation that the notorious Gupta family has decided to sell all of their business interests in South Africa, I have today written to the Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, requesting a progress report on her ongoing investigation into state capture in South Africa.

I called for this investigation in March this year, following a string of admissions by current and previous senior ANC members, indicating that the Gupta’s were involved in several illicit acts. These included offering cabinet positions in exchange for committing to make Gupta-friendly executive decisions, and Ministers on what decisions to take, and when. The Public Protector acceded to my request and subsequently launched an investigation. 

It is now absolutely essential that we obtain an update from the Public Protector as to what progress has been made in this investigation, and an estimation as to when a preliminary report will be completed.

Following the recent Constitutional Court judgment involving President Zuma and the Nkandla scandal, the Court confirmed that the Public Protector’s findings and recommendations are in fact legally binding. This adds even more significance to the Public Protector’s state capture investigation – which is likely to be her last as her seven-year term is coming to an end this October.

It must be made clear that the Gupta’s absence from business activity in South Africa does not absolve them from this pending investigation. Moreover, their proxies, which include Jacob Zuma and several Cabinet Ministers and Board Members of State-Owned Entitles (SOEs) still remain in government. Thus, the Gupta’s selling their business interests and fleeing the country still does not rid South Africa of their destructive influence. 

The project of state capture by President Zuma and the Gupta’s must be fought with every mechanism available – including Parliament and the courts. Zuma and the Gupta’s have for far too long attempted to centralise power in order to get their hands on the people’s money. 

The Gupta family’s capture of the state has robbed our country and its people, and we cannot allow them to flee the country without being held accountable for the wrongs committed. It is thus imperative that the Public Protector provides a progress report on her investigation, following which the DA will consider its options going forward. 

Issued by Mabine Seabe, Spokesperson to the DA Leader, 29 August 2016