The Gupta family\u00a0–\u00a0who have strong ties with president Jacob Zuma, and\u00a0have been accused of having sway over government decisions\u00a0–\u00a0insist they are not involved in local politics.<\/p>\n
In an interview with the Financial Times,<\/a> both president Zuma and Ajay Gupta have defended their relationship, denying the family had any influence over politics or had benefited unduly from their relations.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are business people and we have nothing to do with politics,\u201d said Gupta, in a rare interview.<\/p>\n According to Gupta, the eldest of three brothers, only 1% of the more than R5 billion ($325 million) annual revenue generated from their businesses is derived from government contracts..<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s rubbish, completely rubbish,\u201d Gupta said, in response to questions about whether his family has influenced ministerial appointments. \u201cThese are all rumours and you cannot give a reply to the rumours. You cannot justify it.\u201d<\/p>\n The Guptas trace their roots in South Africa to the early 1990s when Atul Gupta, one of the three brothers, opened a shoe shop in Johannesburg. His brothers, Rajesh and Ajay, arrived in 1997 and established Sahara Computers.<\/p>\n The Gupta empire has since entered into mining, property and the media, which Ajay Gupta puts down to \u201chardworking people\u201d.<\/p>\n According to the FT, Sahara Holdings and Oakbay Investments generated revenue of R1.35 billion and R3.6 billion respectively in the 12 months to the end of February 2015.<\/p>\n Oakbay Investments\u2019 holdings include:<\/p>\n The FT noted that Duduzane Zuma, President Jacob Zuma\u2019s son, has direct or indirect holdings in several Gupta-controlled entities including: Infinity Media, the holding company for ANN7 (9.8%), Sahara Holdings (5%) and Westdawn Investments (10%), another Oakbay investment vehicle which owns a stake in VR Laser.<\/p>\n Tegeta Exploration & Resources, a mining firm, is 34.5% owned by the Guptas\u2019 Oakbay Investments and 28.5% owned by Duduzane\u2019s Mabengela Investments.<\/p>\n Mabengela is 45% owned by Duduzane and 25% owned by Rajesh Gupta. Duduzane and Rajesh Gupta are listed as directors of Islandsite 255, which has a 26% stake in Shiva Uranium.<\/p>\n Zuma\u2019s son gifted shares in Gupta owned company: report<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n We aren\u2019t going anywhere: Guptas<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Eskom has \u201cnothing to hide\u201d in Gupta coal supply probe<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
More on the Gupta family in SA<\/h3>\n