Public Protector asked to investigate alleged
involvement of Gupta family in state affairs
Friday, 18 March 2016
Public Protector Adv. Thuli Madonsela was on Friday
approached by the Dominican Order to conduct a systemic
investigation into the involvement of the Gupta family in
state affairs and the award of contracts to companies linked
to the family.
The Dominican Order, a group of Catholic priests and
brothers in Southern Africa, requested the Public Protector
to investigate allegations that the Deputy Minister of
Finance, Mr Mcebisi Jonas, and a former Member of
Parliament, Ms Vytjie Mentor, were offered cabinet positions
by members of the Gupta family in exchange for favourable
executive decisions and beneficial business interests.
They also requested the Public Protector to investigate
whether the appointment of Mr Des van Rooyen as Minister of
Finance was known beforehand by the Gupta family as has been
alleged. The Dominican Order further asked the Public
Protector to look into allegations that two �senior
advisors� linked to the Gupta family were appointed to the
National Treasury, alongside Mr Van Rooyen, without
following proper procedure.
In addition to these, the Dominican Order, asked the Public
Protector to look into all business dealings of the Gupta
family with any of the government departments to determine
whether there were irregularities, undue enrichment,
corruption and undue influence in the award of tenders,
mining licenses, government advertisements in the New Age
Newspapers and any other government services.
The complaint will be subjected to the Public Protector�s
standard assessment process, which seeks to establish if the
Public Protector has jurisdiction to investigate the
allegations and also to ascertain if there is any merit to
the claims. The assessment process takes up to five working
days. Only after this process will the Public Protector be
in a position to make a decision on whether or not the
matter will be investigated.
For more information, contact:
Ms Kgalalelo Masibi
Spokesperson: Public Protector South Africa
Cell: 079 507 0399
Email:
[email protected]
www.publicprotector.org
@PublicProtector
Public Protector South Africa
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