Hawks launch corruption probe into Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane, Guptas

SAPS PoliceJOHANNESBURG, March 23 (Reuters) – South Africa’s elite ‘Hawks’ police unit has launched a corruption probe into President Jacob Zuma’s son, Duduzane, and the Guptas, a family of businessmen accused of wielding improper political influence, Talk Radio 702 said on Wednesday.

The station quoted a Hawks spokesman as saying the unit would investigate the graft allegations after a complaint was made by the Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s main opposition party.

Hawks to investigate Guptas, Duduzane Zuma

By Mpho Raborife, News24

Johannesburg – The Hawks will be investigating the Gupta family as well as President Jacob Zuma’s son, Duduzane, they said on Wednesday.

Hawks spokesperson Robert Netshiunda said the case opened by the Democratic Alliance last week had been received by the crime fighting unit on Tuesday.

“The case has been transferred to the Hawks and we will be investigating it.”

Netshiunda would not provide any further details about the case.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane and MP David Maynier laid corruption charges against brothers Atul and Ajay Gupta as well as Zuma’s son Duduzane at the Cape Town police station last Thursday, following an admission by Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas that the family had offered him the top job in the ministry.

Maimane said it was quite clear that there was undue influence being exerted by the Guptas, a family with close ties to Zuma. He said South Africans had entrusted Parliament and elected representatives, not the Guptas, with decision making.

“Therefore it is quite criminal that the president feels it quite appropriate for him to go out of his way to allow the Guptas to make those appointments. It’s a betrayal of our democratic processes,” Maimane said.Earlier last week, former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor claimed on Facebook that the Guptas had also previously offered her a Cabinet position.

She said President Zuma was in another room when this took place, and after declining the offer, he allegedly told her “It’s okay ntombazane” while walking her out of the Gupta’s Saxonwold mansion.Despite her allegation, Zuma claimed that he had “no recollection of Ms Mentor and is not aware of the alleged incidents in her career”.

The Gupta family has denied all allegations made by Jonas and Mentor and have challenged the two to provide proof of their claims. – News24

Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/hawks-to-investigate-guptas-duduzane-zuma-20160323

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