While it was business as usual for some of the workers in the neighbouring houses of the Gupta mansion in Saxonwold‚ the bodyguards of the family appeared to be in crisis-control mode.
A team of Tiso Black Star Group Digital journalists went to the Gupta mansion on Monday morning with the hope of finding out whether rumours that members of the politically connected family had left the country for Dubai‚ as weekend newspapers had reported‚ were founded.
No less than five security personnel‚ including three armed bodyguards and two uniformed security guards‚ greeted the Tiso Black Star Group team with disgust as it tried to approach the house.
The bodyguards‚ who are stationed outside the gate of No 5 Saxonwold‚ were not in the mood for chit-chat.
After we introduced ourselves and asked to be allowed to talk to a member of the Gupta family‚ the answer was to the point.
“We have nothing to say to you. If you want any comment‚ please call the office. This is a private property‚” said one of the bodyguards.
He would not tell us which office to call or tell us his name.
But he issued this threat: “If you publish my picture in anyway‚ I will sue you.”
That did not‚ however‚ discourage the team who continued to shoot video footage.
An Indian family who live in an adjacent house‚ with a gate that connects it to the approximately 12000 square metres of the Gupta compound‚ was also not willing to talk to the team.
A security guard who works for neighbours said it looked like it was business as usual‚ as the three bodyguards outside the gate and the two security guards inside the property are always there daily.
Nothing had changed as far is he could see.
A worker who has lived in a house opposite the Gupta mansion for more than a month said he had not noticed anything out of the ordinary.
He said he had not heard noise or loud parties since arriving there‚ before throwing in his opinion that he thinks they are good neighbours.
The bodyguards followed the Tiso Black Star Group team as we rounded the mansion trying to get a good picture of the size of the house.
The team left without the interview we had hoped to get‚ but did get some footage that showed the disgust in the eyes of the bodyguards who “welcomed” us.
Minders and neighbours mum on Guptas’ whereabouts
A team of Tiso Black Star Group Digital journalists went to the Gupta mansion on Monday morning with the hope of finding out whether rumours that members of the politically connected family had left the country for Dubai‚ as weekend newspapers had reported‚ were founded.
No less than five security personnel‚ including three armed bodyguards and two uniformed security guards‚ greeted the Tiso Black Star Group team with disgust as it tried to approach the house.
The bodyguards‚ who are stationed outside the gate of No 5 Saxonwold‚ were not in the mood for chit-chat.
After we introduced ourselves and asked to be allowed to talk to a member of the Gupta family‚ the answer was to the point.
“We have nothing to say to you. If you want any comment‚ please call the office. This is a private property‚” said one of the bodyguards.
He would not tell us which office to call or tell us his name.
But he issued this threat: “If you publish my picture in anyway‚ I will sue you.”
That did not‚ however‚ discourage the team who continued to shoot video footage.
An Indian family who live in an adjacent house‚ with a gate that connects it to the approximately 12000 square metres of the Gupta compound‚ was also not willing to talk to the team.
A security guard who works for neighbours said it looked like it was business as usual‚ as the three bodyguards outside the gate and the two security guards inside the property are always there daily.
Nothing had changed as far is he could see.
A worker who has lived in a house opposite the Gupta mansion for more than a month said he had not noticed anything out of the ordinary.
He said he had not heard noise or loud parties since arriving there‚ before throwing in his opinion that he thinks they are good neighbours.
The bodyguards followed the Tiso Black Star Group team as we rounded the mansion trying to get a good picture of the size of the house.
The team left without the interview we had hoped to get‚ but did get some footage that showed the disgust in the eyes of the bodyguards who “welcomed” us.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos