Zuma's Dubai exit plan
South African newspapers reported that a series of emails in their possession revealed the extent of the influence of the Gupta family over government.
An email trail between the controversial Gupta family and their employees has blown the lid off how they have managed to do business with government, ingratiate themselves with senior officials, and go so far as to help move President Jacob Zuma and his family to Dubai.
The emails, obtained by City Press, also reveal how the Guptas seduced many senior government role players in their bid to capture departments and state-owned entities.
One of the most astonishing emails is from Gupta-owned Sahara Computers' chief executive officer (CEO), Ashu Chawla, to Zuma's son Duduzane.
It contains a draft letter from the president to Abu Dhabi Crown Prince General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and shows how close Zuma is to the Guptas.
In the letter, Zuma writes: “I fondly remember our meeting in the UAE [United Arab Emirates] and the gracious hospitality and warmth extended to me during my visit. It is with this sentiment that I am happy to inform you that my family has decided to make the UAE a second home. It will be a great honour for me and my family to gain your patronage during our proposed residency in the UAE.”
On Saturday, Zuma strongly denied any plans to leave the country, saying through his spokesperson Bongani Nqulunga: “I have my home in Nkandla and I have no intention of living anywhere else. When I retire I will go home to Nkandla. This is a pure fabrication. Duduzane has never spoken to me about living in any other country. He has never shown me any letter. It's shocking in the extreme. It's absolute mischief aimed at sowing confusion”.
The emails also show how the Guptas seduced Cabinet ministers and CEOs of state-owned companies with opulent hotel stays and chauffeur-driven trips in luxury cars to their home in the exclusive Dubai suburb of Emirates Hills, where they bought a R445m mansion.
One was Eskom executive Matshela Koko, whom they flew to Dubai in January last year, putting him up at the posh Oberoi Hotel. Others included Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane, new Communications Minister Ayanda Dlodlo, Denel chairperson Dan Mantsha, businessman and arms deal protagonist Fana Hlongwane, Duduzane Zuma and two of Free State Premier Ace Magashule's sons, Thato and Tshepiso.
The Gupta's grip
The emails are the latest indication of the grip that the Guptas have on the South African government and state-owned entities. They come in the week in which the SA Council of Churches and a collective of academics from top South African universities released reports showing the extent of state capture in South Africa. They come as pressure mounts on Zuma, inside and outside the ANC, in relation to his close association with the Guptas.
For Koko's trip in 2016, an email, from employee Reya Pomar, confirms Koko's reservation and the arrangement of transfers to the hotel from the airport. He also asks for billing instructions.
Chawla responds: “Sahara will pay the entire bill. Please do not ask any credit card guarantee from the guest at the time of check-in”. The hotel concierge informs Chawla: “Please note the chauffeur details mentioned below for the drop towards Emirates Hill (sic).”
At the time, Koko was Eskom's group executive for power generation and the Guptas were busy buying the Optimum Coal Mine from Glencore.
The Oberoi Hotel was a favourite of the Guptas, and Duduzane Zuma also stayed there the month before Koko arrived.
The email trail also shows that, on the day Chawla booked Koko's trip to Dubai, he also made Mantsha's travel arrangements. An email shows that Mantsha, who swiftly axed Denel CEO Riaz Saloojee and replaced him before engineering the joint venture between Denel and Gupta-owned company VR Laser Asia, was booked to arrive by chauffeur from the Oberoi at the Guptas' mansion at 07:00.
CITY PRESS
The emails, obtained by City Press, also reveal how the Guptas seduced many senior government role players in their bid to capture departments and state-owned entities.
One of the most astonishing emails is from Gupta-owned Sahara Computers' chief executive officer (CEO), Ashu Chawla, to Zuma's son Duduzane.
It contains a draft letter from the president to Abu Dhabi Crown Prince General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and shows how close Zuma is to the Guptas.
In the letter, Zuma writes: “I fondly remember our meeting in the UAE [United Arab Emirates] and the gracious hospitality and warmth extended to me during my visit. It is with this sentiment that I am happy to inform you that my family has decided to make the UAE a second home. It will be a great honour for me and my family to gain your patronage during our proposed residency in the UAE.”
On Saturday, Zuma strongly denied any plans to leave the country, saying through his spokesperson Bongani Nqulunga: “I have my home in Nkandla and I have no intention of living anywhere else. When I retire I will go home to Nkandla. This is a pure fabrication. Duduzane has never spoken to me about living in any other country. He has never shown me any letter. It's shocking in the extreme. It's absolute mischief aimed at sowing confusion”.
The emails also show how the Guptas seduced Cabinet ministers and CEOs of state-owned companies with opulent hotel stays and chauffeur-driven trips in luxury cars to their home in the exclusive Dubai suburb of Emirates Hills, where they bought a R445m mansion.
One was Eskom executive Matshela Koko, whom they flew to Dubai in January last year, putting him up at the posh Oberoi Hotel. Others included Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane, new Communications Minister Ayanda Dlodlo, Denel chairperson Dan Mantsha, businessman and arms deal protagonist Fana Hlongwane, Duduzane Zuma and two of Free State Premier Ace Magashule's sons, Thato and Tshepiso.
The Gupta's grip
The emails are the latest indication of the grip that the Guptas have on the South African government and state-owned entities. They come in the week in which the SA Council of Churches and a collective of academics from top South African universities released reports showing the extent of state capture in South Africa. They come as pressure mounts on Zuma, inside and outside the ANC, in relation to his close association with the Guptas.
For Koko's trip in 2016, an email, from employee Reya Pomar, confirms Koko's reservation and the arrangement of transfers to the hotel from the airport. He also asks for billing instructions.
Chawla responds: “Sahara will pay the entire bill. Please do not ask any credit card guarantee from the guest at the time of check-in”. The hotel concierge informs Chawla: “Please note the chauffeur details mentioned below for the drop towards Emirates Hill (sic).”
At the time, Koko was Eskom's group executive for power generation and the Guptas were busy buying the Optimum Coal Mine from Glencore.
The Oberoi Hotel was a favourite of the Guptas, and Duduzane Zuma also stayed there the month before Koko arrived.
The email trail also shows that, on the day Chawla booked Koko's trip to Dubai, he also made Mantsha's travel arrangements. An email shows that Mantsha, who swiftly axed Denel CEO Riaz Saloojee and replaced him before engineering the joint venture between Denel and Gupta-owned company VR Laser Asia, was booked to arrive by chauffeur from the Oberoi at the Guptas' mansion at 07:00.
CITY PRESS
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article