Public Protector gets R1.5 million to investigate the Guptas
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has been given the go-ahead from Treasury to redirect funds so that she can investigate the alleged capturing of the state by the Gupta family.
Treasury said it would give the office of the Public Protector an additional R1.5 million to conduct the investigation – half of the R3 million Madonsela initially requested.
The office of the Public Protector said that the Gupta investigation wasn’t about giving the case special treatment, but rather that it is an urgent matter that needs to be addressed as soon as possible, as there is a risk it could destabilise the country.
The grant from Treasury carries its own controversy, as the Public Protector recently had to close offices in five areas due to a lack of funding, while the office has over 4,700 cases which are still outstanding.
Public Protector spokesman Oupa Segalwe said that funds would be directed from the cases that are meant to be investigated in the last quarter of the current financial year. These will be reimbursed by the Treasury injection before their investigation processes start, he said.
The Gupta investigation is seen as high priority because of the high-level names involved in the case.
The family came into the spotlight in February 2016 after deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas came forward with an official statement saying that he had been approached by the family and offered the position of finance minister before former finmin Nhlanhla Nene was fired in December 2015.
The firing of Nene was unexpected, and caused a crash on local markets. It has been alleged that the Gupta family uses its relationship with president Jacob Zuma and his family to secure lucrative government contracts, and to influence the appointment of government officials who would aid their business goals.
The family has been linked with multiple billion-rand contracts in state energy and mining, and run media groups that benefit from high-value government sponsorship.
Despite the allegation, the family has not been formally charged with any crimes; however, a number of investigations are underway.
More on the Guptas
Eskom boss slams Gupta ‘witch hunt’
Gupta company bosses gang up on Gordhan live on radio
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