The DA has called on Public Protector Thuli Madonsela to extend her investigation into President Jacob Zuma and the so-called "Guptagate scandal" to include revelations by former Government Communication and Information System head Themba Maseko.
This follows reports that Maseko was called by Zuma, prior to a meeting with the Guptas in Saxonwold, Johannesburg, and asked to “help them”.
At the meeting it is alleged that Ajay Gupta wanted government advertising to be channelled to The New Age newspaper. It is alleged that Gupta told Maseko: “I’m not asking you, I’m telling you.”
DA communications spokesperson Phumzile van Damme said: “President Zuma’s involvement in this attempt to improperly benefit the Gupta family is a clear violation of Paragraph 2(b) of the Executive Ethics Act.
“The DA will lay criminal charges – in terms of Section 4 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004 (Act No 12 of 2004) – against the Guptas for what now amounts to further prima facie evidence of an attempt to improperly benefit from public resources,” she said.
Van Damme said she would issue questions to Communications Minister Faith Muthambi.
“This latest information glaringly contradicts a reply received from the minister of communications. I will, therefore, submit further questions and demand that she comes clean about whether she knew about the meeting with Guptas, has herself met the Guptas and received similar requests, or has knowledge of meetings with respect to The New Age with any other minister,” she said.
Earlier the Congress of the People called for the arrest of Zuma and the Guptas.
Public protector must probe Maseko's Gupta claims – DA
This follows reports that Maseko was called by Zuma, prior to a meeting with the Guptas in Saxonwold, Johannesburg, and asked to “help them”.
At the meeting it is alleged that Ajay Gupta wanted government advertising to be channelled to The New Age newspaper. It is alleged that Gupta told Maseko: “I’m not asking you, I’m telling you.”
DA communications spokesperson Phumzile van Damme said: “President Zuma’s involvement in this attempt to improperly benefit the Gupta family is a clear violation of Paragraph 2(b) of the Executive Ethics Act.
“The DA will lay criminal charges – in terms of Section 4 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004 (Act No 12 of 2004) – against the Guptas for what now amounts to further prima facie evidence of an attempt to improperly benefit from public resources,” she said.
Van Damme said she would issue questions to Communications Minister Faith Muthambi.
“This latest information glaringly contradicts a reply received from the minister of communications. I will, therefore, submit further questions and demand that she comes clean about whether she knew about the meeting with Guptas, has herself met the Guptas and received similar requests, or has knowledge of meetings with respect to The New Age with any other minister,” she said.
Earlier the Congress of the People called for the arrest of Zuma and the Guptas.
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