Gupta

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – 25 July 2010: Billionaire businessman and newspaper publisher Atul Gupta at the launch of the new daily newspaper, The New Age. (Photo by Gallo Images/Sunday Times/Simphiwe Nkwali)

Gigaba and the Guptas: Is Atul a South African citizen?

He’s gon’ be right. He’s gon’ be alright!

Gupta

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – 25 July 2010: Billionaire businessman and newspaper publisher Atul Gupta at the launch of the new daily newspaper, The New Age. (Photo by Gallo Images/Sunday Times/Simphiwe Nkwali)

Former Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba’s return to his old portfolio as Minister of Home Affairs hasn’t been all roses as, barely a week after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s first cabinet reshuffle, he was met with a grilling over the naturalisation of the Gupta brothers.

At a media briefing on Tuesday, Gigaba denied that brothers, Atul and Ajay were South African citizens, a statement that quickly turned to bite him on the arse as passport copies soon surfaced – thanks to the #GuptaLeaks.

Atul, whom Gigaba especially pounded about in denying his citizenship, is listed as a South African. ID copies also revealed that he is a registered voter, a privilege only enjoyed by citizens.

According to Home Affairs director general, Mkuseli Apleni, four Gupta family members’ citizenship was indeed approved by Gigaba in 2015, but those exclude Atul and Ajay.

“Let me put it on the record more clearly, the matter of Atul Gupta, in my tenure at Home Affairs, I have never received an application from Atul Gupta nor Rajesh Gupta,” Apleni said in a statement.

“In the nature of Home Affairs protocols, we are limited to sharing people’s private information when there isn’t a question of irregularity but given public interest, I have opted to override these protocols and share the full history of Gupta family’s documentation.”

Gigaba’s rather stressful return to Home Affairs also appears to have taken a toll on his physical health as, on Wednesday, he was a no show in Parliament as he was due to appear before  national assembly to answer questions on the matter.

National Assembly speaker, Baleka Mbete, confirmed that she had received a letter stating that Gigaba is sick, not before his absence had sparked the ire of opposition MPs, resulting in EFF members (who else?) Floyd Shivambu and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi getting kicked out.