Gigaba to take on SA’s richest family over exclusive 7-star airport and claims of Gupta influence
Home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba will take on South Africa’s richest family as the court case over OR Tambo’s exclusive seven-star “Fireblade” airport terminal heats up.
The privately held terminal – owned by the wealthy Oppenheimer family – has been running at a multi-million rand loss due to its international operations being blocked by the department of home affairs.
The Oppenheimers took the fight to court in late 2016, serving court papers on Gigaba, accusing the Gupta family of using its influence in government to impede the terminal’s operations, with the aim of ultimately controlling it themselves.
According to the Oppenheimers – citing ‘former Gupta pilots’ who had come forward with information – the plan was to keep the terminal running at a loss, forcing the family to sell it. The Guptas would then step in as willing buyers.
The Fireblade terminal has faced losses of over R163-million in the previous financial year, as it needs international flights to turn a profit.
The terminal is leased from state-owned arms group, Denel, which indirectly has business dealings with the Guptas through various companies and associates. The Oppenheimers claim that the Gupta family is using its influence over Denel to pressure Gigaba to block operations.
In court papers served on Gigaba in 2016, the Oppenheimer family said it had received approval for an international terminal from 27 state entities – with the department of home affairs now being the only opponent left blocking the way.
Gigaba taking on the billionaires
Gigaba is expected to take the Oppenheimer family on in their court challenge, answering to claims that he helped the Gupta family scupper the Oppenheimer’s plans for Fireblade.
Gigaba’s answering affidavit on the matter is also expected to detail how allowing the Oppenheimers to have VIP access to the country would be “unethical” and “irrational”.
He will file papers on Friday (20 January) explaining why the department of Home Affairs is against making the Fireblade terminal international – including setting a precedent that shows that points of entry cannot be bought, and that such points are for all South Africans, not just the wealthy.
Speaking to The Star, Gigaba’s spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete rubbished the claims that the minister had been ‘captured’ by the Guptas and reiterated the stance that the Oppenheimer family was merely looking for special treatment.
“We find the attack on the minister’s integrity unfortunate, especially when it’s not evidence-based. There’s a growing narrative that if you don’t agree with someone, you’re captured. The minister’s view is that ports of entry should be for all South Africans. He’s willing to talk to any family to improve our ports of entry,” Tshwete said.
According to papers filed by the Oppenheimers, the department of home affairs was currently the only governmental body standing in the way of the Fireblade terminal.
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