Guptas capture hashtags on Twitter

The Atul traded in unsure territory The Gupta softened amid a morning sell-off…What good would state capture be having a country’s currency named after yourself?

While the politically connected family angrily denied allegations of undue influence over government affairs in recent days‚ South Africans could be excused for imagining life under the Guptas.

A R50 note bearing Atul Gupta’s face on it did the rounds on Twitter on Thursday morning as the family did a hashtag capture following Wednesday night’s bombshell by deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas.

Jonas confirmed reports that he attended a meeting with members of the business dynasty during which he was offered the job of the erstwhile finance minister‚ Nhlanhla Nene‚ who was fired just days later.

#GuptaGate trended ahead of the much-anticipated appearance of President Jacob Zuma in the National Assembly on Thursday‚ where he is expected to face questions about his friendship with the Guptas.

#GuptaGate also garnered Twitter a new user‚ with PapaTank ?@baitsetravelsol posting: “political turmoil and instability happening in South Africa has led me to join Twitter.Don’t want to miss a thing. #GuptaGate #VytjieMentor”.

Vytjie Mentor is a former African National Congress member of Parliament who this week claimed the Guptas had offered her the job of public enterprises minister.

Lynton Moodley ?@Lynton–M’s conscience got the better of him‚ and he‚ like many others‚ came clean and admitted: “I can’t do this anymore. I too was offered the position of Minister of Finance #GuptaGate”.

Giveaways(TuuTjea) ?@TuuTjea seized on an opportunity‚ and made an offer to those who hadn’t received a call yet: “Tomorrow I will tweet free airtime. Dont be caught without airtime to return a missed call from #Guptas ‚culd b a gud offer. #GuptaGate”.

davidmoffatt ?@davidmoffatt – unlike many who criticised the job offers as political interference — didn’t condemn anyone‚ but rather pleaded: “Can the Guptas please offer enough jobs to resolve South Africa’s employment crisis? #GuptaGate”.

The Guptas also came in for stick under the #StateCaptureMovieTitles hashtag‚ with Marthélize Tredoux @Konfytbekkie adapting a popular Leon Schuster movie: “Oh Schucks‚ it’s Gupta!”

Others included:

Hennie Kriel ?@LittleManKriel: “There’s Something About Atul”.

@TshegoBeckham ?@1f8301995c0441a: “Bend it(SA) like Zuptas”.

Nyasha Frank ?@frankchzw: “Lord of the Guptas”.

ImaGoodBoy ?@shaun–turn: “Fear and loathing in Las Guptas”.