<p data-reactid="35">A South African court denied on Friday an application by former finance minister Pravin Gordhan for an order that would block the ministry from any involvement in a dispute between banks and the Gupta family, businessmen accused of influence peddling.</p>
<p data-reactid="36">Standard Bank, Nedbank, FirstRand and Barclays Africa last year closed the bank accounts of companies controlled by the Gupta family following accusations they had undue influence over President Jacob Zuma and the issuing of government contracts.</p>
<p data-reactid="37">Gupta-owned companies asked Gordhan, an outspoken critic of Zuma and the Gupta family, to intervene and force the banks to reopen their accounts, prompting him to ask the High Court to declare it was outside of the remit of his ministry.</p>
<p data-reactid="38">A Pretoria high court called Gordhan&#8217;s application unnecessary, local media reported.</p>
<p data-reactid="39">Zuma and the Guptas have denied any wrongdoing.</p>
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<div class="Attribution_attribution_o4ojT" data-reactid="41">
<p class="Attribution_content_27_rw" data-reactid="42">Reporting by TJ Strydom; Writing by Joe Brock; Editing by Ed Cropley</p>
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South African court denies Gordhan protection in Gupta, bank dispute

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<p>The North Gauteng high court today dismissed former finance minister Pravin Gordhan&#8217;s case where he was seeking declaratory court order that he cannot get intervene in the matter between the country&#8217;s major banks and the Gupta family.</p>


Pravin Gordhan loses court case on Gupta banks case

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<p>In the latest instalment of the Gupta Leaks, SARS Commissioner, Tom Moyane is reported to have had a meeting with the controversial family while he was in Dubai. Moyane has denied this saying he was in transit to Portugal.</p>


SARS Commissioner Tom Moyane implicated in #GuptaLeaks

<p data-reactid="38">One of South Africa&#8217;s Gupta brothers said leaked emails suggesting his family used links to President Jacob Zuma to win contracts and influence decisions were fake, a rare intervention in a scandal that has rocked the government.</p>
<p data-reactid="39">Atul Gupta &#8211; whose family business empire spans media, mining and technology &#8211; told the BBC he had no idea where more than 100,000 documents and emails released in the media since June had come from.</p>
<p data-reactid="40">&#8220;There&#8217;s no authenticity of Gupta leaks at all,&#8221; he said, without suggesting who might have forged them or addressing specific allegations in the paperwork.</p>
<p data-reactid="41">Senior members of the ruling African National Congress party have accused the three Gupta brothers of using their relationship with Zuma to wield influence and win business.</p>
<p data-reactid="42">Media reports based on the emails have drawn several international firms into a scandal that has prompted politicians to call for a judicial enquiry and Zuma&#8217;s resignation.</p>
<p data-reactid="43">Zuma and the Guptas have denied wrongdoing. A family spokesman last month said the allegations were false and part of a &#8220;blatantly political campaign&#8221;.</p>
<h3 data-reactid="44">Pr Campaign</h3>
<p data-reactid="45">Atul Gupta said his family also had no role in a publicity campaign by London-based public relations firm Bell Pottinger that cast enemies of Zuma as agents of &#8220;white monopoly capital&#8221;.</p>
<p data-reactid="46">The slogan, aired frequently on a Gupta-owned television station, quickly gained traction in a country where the white minority still wields disproportionate economic clout two decades after the end of apartheid.</p>
<p data-reactid="47">Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and opposition members have said the campaign inflamed racial tensions.</p>
<p data-reactid="48">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what this narrative comes from. White monopoly capital, if you go research any revolutionary speech in this country, always existed. I don&#8217;t know where any of these terms come from, believe me,&#8221; he told BBC Radio 4&#8217;s World at One show on Tuesday.</p>
<p data-reactid="49">The leaked emails suggested Bell Pottinger worked with Zuma&#8217;s son, Duduzane, who was then a director at a subsidiary of the Gupta-controlled Oakbay company, to create a &#8220;narrative that grabs the attention of the grassroots&#8221;.</p>
<p data-reactid="50">Bell Pottinger ended its work with Oakbay in April and last month apologised for the campaign and fired a partner in charge of it.</p>
<p data-reactid="52">The firm is also under investigation by Britain&#8217;s Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) after a complaint from South Africa&#8217;s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA).</p>
<p data-reactid="53">&#8220;It wasn&#8217;t an intention to play with race, it was an intention to highlight a very real issue,&#8221; Bell Pottinger&#8217;s Chief Executive James Henderson told the BBC.</p>
<p>&#8220;Knowing what I know now, clearly in hindsight, they (the team) got involved in a situation which was much more political than clearly had been anticipated by them at the time.&#8221;</p>
<div class="Attribution_attribution_o4ojT" data-reactid="54">
<p class="Attribution_content_27_rw" data-reactid="55">Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by James Macharia and Andrew Heavens</p>
</div>


Gupta brother says South Africa influence peddling emails are fake

<p data-reactid="38">South African Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba said on Friday he was worried about the influence of a wealthy family accused of using its friendship with President Jacob Zuma to secure contracts with state-owned companies.</p>
<p data-reactid="39">Gigaba&#8217;s unusually strong comments came the day after power utility Eskom suspended its chief financial officer Anoj Singh pending an investigation into allegations that he granted preferential treatment to firms linked to the Gupta family, business friends of Zuma.</p>
<p data-reactid="40">Gigaba is close to Zuma and seen as an ally. He took office after Zuma fired highly respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan in a March cabinet reshuffle.</p>
<p data-reactid="41">Singh, the Gupta family and Zuma have denied any wrongdoing.</p>
<p data-reactid="42">&#8220;Like all South Africans, I am very worried about them and I think we need to establish fact from allegation,&#8221; Gigaba told the Cape Talk radio station when asked about a slew of leaked emails that have detailed the Gupta family&#8217;s business dealings.</p>
<p data-reactid="43">&#8220;The allegations are quite damaging to the investor perceptions, as well as ratings agencies, of the governance of our state-owned companies,&#8221; Gigaba said.</p>
<p data-reactid="44">He also said he supported the establishment of a commission of judicial enquiry, called for last year by South Africa&#8217;s top anti-graft watchdog, to investigate the mounting allegations swirling around the family.</p>
<p data-reactid="45">A number of international companies have been drawn into the widening scandals, including Germany&#8217;s SAP and Software AG, and global consultancy McKinsey.</p>
<div class="Attribution_attribution_o4ojT" data-reactid="46">
<p class="Attribution_content_27_rw" data-reactid="47">Reporting by Ed Stoddard; Editing by James Macharia and Mark Heinrich</p>
</div>


South Africa finance minister says worried about Gupta family

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<p>New #GuptaLeaks reveal how trade union federation Cosatu was swindled out of monies from the sale of its new headquarters in 2011.</p>


#GuptaLeaks allege Cosatu robbed in doggy property deal

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<p>South Africa&#8217;s Minister of Finance Malusi Gigaba spoke on his relationship with the Gupta family and his name being linked to the Gupta leaked e-mails.</p>


Malusi Gigaba dissociates his name from Gupta leaks

<p>Enterprise application software provider SAP has initiated an independent investigation into allegations that it agreed to pay <a href="http://amabhungane.co.za/article/2017-07-11-guptaleaks-software-giant-sap-paid-gupta-front-r100m-kickbacks-for-state-business">10% “sales commission” </a>to a company controlled by the Guptas to clinch business from Transnet.</p>
<p>The New York Stock Exchange listed company is governed by <a href="https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/foreign-corrupt-practices-act">The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, </a>which prohibits such practices.</p>
<p>SAP&#8217;s probe will be spearheaded by a multinational law firm and overseen by Executive Board Member Adaire Fox-Martin, who will  vigorously review contracts awarded by SAP South Africa.</p>
<p>SAP has also launched an internal review and will make the results of the investigation public once it is concluded.</p>
<p><strong>READ: </strong><a href="http://cnbc.africa/news/political/2017/07/13/state-capture-probe/">SA’s Public Protector wants an urgent inquiry into state capture</a></p>
<p>In a statement SAP said &#8220;Consistent with company policy, SAP has brought in senior expert staff across all relevant functions while the current management team has been placed on administrative leave pending the findings of the review&#8221;.</p>
<p>Fox-Martin is currently travelling to South Africa to address the concerns of customers, partners and employees.</p>
<p>The SAP (Global) interim team are expected to arrive from Germany tomorrow morning.</p>


SAP to investigate Gupta corruption allegations

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<p>In a stunning surprise, the former KPMG chief executive &#038; in-coming Chair of the Alexander Forbes, Moses Kgosana resigned from a position he was due to take over in August. Kgosana was accused of having a close relationship with the Gupta family.</p>


Alexander Forbes CEO on Gupta leaks & brand reputation

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<p>The Daily Maverick has published another instalment of the Gupta Leaks saga, revealing that tax-payers money was used to pay for the lavish Gupta wedding last year, Craig Mckune, Investigative Journalist for Amabhungane joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


SA tax-payers money used to fund lavish Gupta wedding

<p>South Africa&#8217;s Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba on Tuesday denied unlawfully granting citizenship to five members of the wealthy Gupta family, who are friends of President Jacob Zuma, during his time as minister of home affairs.</p>
<p>New allegations in recent weeks of inappropriate collusion between state-owned companies and business interests close to Zuma have put more pressure on the scandal-plagued leader and ministers close to him.</p>
<p>Gigaba has come under fire after Julius Malema, leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, tweeted pictures of government documents showing Gigaba had fast-tracked the naturalization process for Gupta family members.</p>
<p>In a statement, Gigaba confirmed the authenticity of the documents but denied they showed he had acted unlawfully.</p>
<p>&#8220;I have requested the Department of Home Affairs to provide chronological details of how all applications by the Gupta family have been handled by the Department of Home Affairs from the beginning,&#8221; Gigaba said. &#8220;We have no doubt that the whole process has been handled by the book in terms of our laws.&#8221;</p>
<p>He said it had been within his powers as home affairs minister to shorten the citizenship process and that such courtesies had been extended to business executives and sports people as well as the Gupta family members.</p>
<p>Gigaba was appointed as finance minister in March, replacing Pravin Gordhan, a favorite of international investors, who was sacked by Zuma. The cabinet reshuffle prompted ratings agencies to downgrade Africa&#8217;s most industrialized economy, citing heightened political risk.</p>
<p>Gary van Staden, a political analyst at NKC Independent Economists said the allegations against Gigaba risked further undermining investors&#8217; confidence in South Africa, although they were unlikely to immediately impact investments.</p>
<p>South Africa depends on foreign investment to finance its big budget and balance of payments deficits.</p>
<p>The EFF last week filed a criminal complaint against Gigaba over what it says is evidence of corruption in a lucrative government tender. Gigaba and the Gupta family have denied doing any wrongdoing.</p>
<p>Malema is the leader of the ultra-left EFF party which emerged as electoral kingmaker in Johannesburg and the capital Pretoria at municipal elections in August last year. A former protege of Zuma, he was expelled from the ruling African National Congress in 2011 for bringing the movement into disrepute.</p>
<p>(Reporting by Mfuneko Toyana and Tanisha Heiberg; Editing by James Macharia and Catherine Evans)</p>


S.Africa’s Finance Minister Gigaba says granted Gupta family citizenship lawfully

<p>South Africa&#8217;s Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said in court documents on Monday that the Gupta brothers were carrying out an &#8220;organised campaign&#8221; against him and the Treasury.</p>
<p>Gordhan also denied in the affidavit that he had a vendetta against the Guptas as claimed in court documents filed by the Gupta family on Jan. 20. The Gupta brothers had accused Gordhan of planning to diminish their business.</p>
<p>This affidavit had been filed in response to one issued by Gordhan in October linking them and their firm to suspicious transactions made by Indian-born Ajay, Atul and Rajesh Gupta. The Guptas have denied any wrongdoing.</p>
<p>The Gupta brothers&#8217; lawyer were not available to comment on Monday.﻿</p>
<p> </p>


S.Africa's Gordhan alleges campaign by Guptas against Treasury

<p> South African lender FirstRand said on Monday suspicions of money-laundering lay behind its decision to cut ties with a business family linked to allegations of influence-peddling in President Jacob Zuma&#8217;s government.</p>
<p>FirstRand, South Africa&#8217;s biggest bank by market value, is the first lender to publicly disclose reasons for severing links earlier this year with Oakbay Investments, a company controlled by the Gupta brothers.</p>
<p>The Gupta family, whose businesses range from media to mining, and Zuma have repeatedly denied wrongdoing. The Guptas&#8217; lawyer said on Monday suspicions of money-laundering were groundless.</p>
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<p>In an affidavit seen by Reuters, dated Nov. 29, FirstRand Chief Executive Johan Burger said his company had closed Oakbay bank accounts to comply with international regulations.</p>
<p>&#8220;These practices and standards require us to take steps to prevent FirstRand being used for money-laundering and other unlawful activities,&#8221; Burger says in the court papers.</p>
<p>The Gupta family lawyer, Gert van der Merwe, told Reuters it took the accusations of money-laundering seriously and that it would deal with them in its own court application, to be filed by the end of the year.</p>
<p>&#8220;We want the real reasons for closing the accounts, not sweeping statements,&#8221; van der Merwe said.</p>
<p>&#8220;They&#8217;ve not disclosed any real reasons to show my clients are politically exposed people.&#8221;</p>
<p>Between December 2015 and April this year, all four major banks, also including Standard Bank, Nedbank and Barclays Africa, terminated the accounts of companies controlled by the Gupta family without making their reasons public.</p>
<p>FirstRand&#8217;s court filing is in support of October&#8217;s application by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan asking a court to declare he could not interfere with the decisions by the banks.</p>
<p>Barclays and Nedbank said they would file legal applications similar to FirstRand&#8217;s some time this week.</p>
<p>Last week Zuma sent back to parliament an anti-money-laundering bill that would have increased scrutiny of the bank accounts of &#8220;prominent individuals&#8221;, including himself. He declined to sign it into law, saying it might not be constitutional.</p>
<p>A report by the Public Protector, released on Nov. 2, focused on allegations that businessmen Ajay, Atul and Rajesh Gupta had tried to influence the appointment of ministers. Zuma and the Gupta brothers have denied all the accusations.</p>
<p>The report called for a judicial inquiry to be set up by the president and for a judge to be appointed by the chief justice within 30 days of its release.</p>
<p>Zuma has described it as &#8220;unfair&#8221; and last week launched a court bid to have it set aside. On Monday the opposition Democratic Alliance asked the constitutional court to compel the leader to appoint a judicial inquiry as recommended by former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.﻿</p>
<p> </p>


South Africa's FirstRand closed Gupta accounts on money-laundering fears

<p>South Africa&#8217;s wealthy Gupta family, accused in a government corruption probe of allegedly holding undue influence over President Jacob Zuma, said on Tuesday it had asked a court to force a financial regulator to give the family details concerning the closure of its business accounts.</p>
<p>The country&#8217;s four major banks, Barclay&#8217;s , Standard Bank , FNB and Nedbank early in 2016 terminated the accounts of several companies, spanning mining to media operations, controlled by the family under the Johannesburg exchange listed Oakbay Resources.</p>
<p>The banks refused to make public their reasons for closing the accounts. Analysts have said the banks were likely prompted by concerns about reputational risk.</p>
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<p>The Guptas have denied accusations that they have used their friendship with Zuma to advance their interests as well accusations of money laundering and fraud.</p>
<p>In the affidavit the family requested the High Court to force the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) to provide details of transactions totalling 6.8 billion rand ($493 million) flagged as suspicious by the regulator in a report to Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.</p>
<p>An anti-graft probe published this month by the Public Protector focused on claims that the brothers, Ajay, Atul and Rajesh Gupta influenced the appointment of ministers.</p>
<p>It also called for an investigation into whether Zuma, some of his cabinet members and some state companies had acted improperly, triggering renewed calls for the president&#8217;s resignation.</p>
<p>President Zuma, who on Monday was facing a motion to remove him by members of his party, the ANC, has said that the Guptas are his friends but denied doing anything improper.</p>
<p>($1 = 13.7952 rand)﻿</p>


S.Africa's Gupta family asks court to force release of details over closure of accounts

<p>South Africa&#8217;s wealthy Gupta family, which has been accused of holding undue political sway over President Jacob Zuma, said on Thursday it would defend itself at a judicial inquiry demanded by an anti-corruption watchdog.</p>
<p>The carefully worded Public Protector report into alleged influence-peddling stopped short of saying crimes had been committed but said a judge must probe a scandal that has rattled markets in Africa&#8217;s most industrialised economy and increased the risk of ratings downgrades.</p>
<p>Titled &#8220;State of Capture&#8221;, the 355-page report by the constitutionally mandated watchdog listed several allegations against Zuma, the Guptas, two cabinet ministers and executives at state-owned firms. It did not reach conclusive findings.</p>
<p>The three Indian-born Gupta brothers &#8211; Ajay, Atul and Rajesh &#8211; are accused of using their friendship with the president to influence cabinet appointments.</p>
<p>Zuma denies granting undue influence to the brothers, who run a business empire from media to mining.</p>
<p>They have denied seeking it, and will defend their corner at the planned inquiry, their lawyer, Gert van de Merwe, said.</p>
<p>&#8220;We will participate and we will participate comprehensively,&#8221; he told eNCA television.</p>
<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve always said that if we apply for review of the report of the Public Protector, it will be on the basis that we&#8217;ve not been afforded the opportunity to participate,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>The Guptas, who refer to themselves in statements as the &#8216;Gupta Family&#8217;, were studying the report, he added.</p>
<p>Zuma&#8217;s office has said he is doing the same and reserves the right to challenge its findings in court.</p>
<p>The report, compiled by Thuli Madonsela, who reached the end of her tenure as Public Protector on Oct. 14, was released on Wednesday, hours after Zuma withdrew a court bid to delay its publication.</p>
<p>Analysts said although the report did not carry a knock-out punch, it had piled even more pressure on Zuma to resign.</p>
<p>Since taking office in 2009, Zuma, 74, has survived several corruption scandals with the backing of top echelons of the ANC and the party&#8217;s hefty majority in parliament.﻿</p>
<p> </p>


Guptas

South African court denies Gordhan protection in Gupta, bank dispute

Pravin Gordhan loses court case on Gupta banks case

SARS Commissioner Tom Moyane implicated in #GuptaLeaks

Gupta brother says South Africa influence peddling emails are fake

South Africa finance minister says worried about Gupta family

#GuptaLeaks allege Cosatu robbed in doggy property deal

Malusi Gigaba dissociates his name from Gupta leaks

SAP to investigate Gupta corruption allegations

Alexander Forbes CEO on Gupta leaks & brand reputation

SA tax-payers money used to fund lavish Gupta wedding

S.Africa’s Finance Minister Gigaba says granted Gupta family citizenship lawfully

S.Africa's Gordhan alleges campaign by Guptas against Treasury

South Africa's FirstRand closed Gupta accounts on money-laundering fears

S.Africa's Gupta family asks court to force release of details over closure of accounts

South Africa's Guptas to challenge state capture report at inquiry

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Guptas

South African court denies Gordhan protection in Gupta, bank dispute

Pravin Gordhan loses court case on Gupta banks case

SARS Commissioner Tom Moyane implicated in #GuptaLeaks

Gupta brother says South Africa influence peddling emails are fake

South Africa finance minister says worried about Gupta family

#GuptaLeaks allege Cosatu robbed in doggy property deal

Malusi Gigaba dissociates his name from Gupta leaks

SAP to investigate Gupta corruption allegations

Alexander Forbes CEO on Gupta leaks & brand reputation

SA tax-payers money used to fund lavish Gupta wedding

S.Africa’s Finance Minister Gigaba says granted Gupta family citizenship lawfully

S.Africa's Gordhan alleges campaign by Guptas against Treasury

South Africa's FirstRand closed Gupta accounts on money-laundering fears

S.Africa's Gupta family asks court to force release of details over closure of accounts

South Africa's Guptas to challenge state capture report at inquiry

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