When 35 year old firebrand Julius Malema was kicked out of the ruling ANC, he was warned that life would be “cold” outside the party’s warm embrace. Malema certainly turned that prediction on its head through a mixture of personal charisma, populist economic rhetoric and exposing secrets sourced from deep within his old party. Early on he identified the avaricious Indian immigrant Gupta family as President Jacob Zuma’s weak point, and has driven home the advantage by combining them in the #Zuptamustfall rallying cry, his party will be celebrating the Gupta moonlight flit – and there is no doubt the EFF will keep pushing until all of the ugly truth about the family’s modus operandi is exposed. Where Malema is wrong, though, is propagating the myth that the Guptas are a reflection of the way most big business operate here. That’s simply not true. The South African business establishment has many faults, but routinely bribing State officials and trading political favours for business advantage are not among them. The companies are too sophisticated, too well governed to expose themselves to such risks. Besides, the complexion of SA business has become considerably darker since 1994 – both in ownership and leadership – so to blast the business community as “white capital” is factually incorrect. In any event, those individuals targeted like Johann Rupert, Koos Bekker and Nicky Oppenheimer made and retain the bulk of their fortunes abroad. Attacking them, and the rapidly globalising SA business community, simply alienates the nation’s job creating engine and major tax base. – Alec Hogg
By Tammy Petersen, News24
Cape Town – The Gupta family leaving the country is a clear sign that the controversial businessmen have conceded, the Economic Freedom Fighters said on Sunday.
And now the party is eyeing the removal of President Jacob Zuma.
“Our motto [remains] that Zupta must fall,” EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi insisted.
He alleges the family is in a “corrupt relationship with the president and other ministers based on looting the state, the only institution directly in the hands of the black majority”.
“There is a significant level of corruption to undo political autonomy.”
The party, which previously called the president a “stooge of the Gupta family”, has even released a house music track titled #ZuptaMustFall.
City Press on Sunday reported that Ajay and Atul Gupta left South Africa for Dubai on Thursday after the family was seen leaving Lanseria Airport “with a mountain of luggage”.
The Guptas and President Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane Zuma on Friday announced their resignation from Oakbay Investments and Oakbay Resources and Energy.
We received unconfirmed reports that Zuma wants to leave the country and seek asylum in Dubai because he doesn't feel safe in his country!
— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) April 10, 2016
Fin24 reported that the decision to resign with immediate effect “follows a sustained political attack on the company, and the concern that the jobs and livelihoods of nearly one thousand employees would be at immediate risk as a result of the outgoing director’s association with the company”, Oakbay Resources said.
The Guptas in a statement said they had taken the decision to resign all executive and non-executive positions held in Oakbay Investments on Thursday following a “period of sustained political attack on our family and our businesses”.
“Oakbay’s executive committee and the CEOs of each of the businesses will continue to oversee the management and running of the business and all portfolio companies going forward,” they said.
Ajay and Atul were the co-chairs of Oakbay Investments, while Atul was the chair of Oakbay Resources and Energy. Varun Gupta was the CEO of Oakbay Resources and Energy, while Duduzane Zuma was a director of Shiva Uranium.
The family has come under increasing pressure due to allegations that they influenced President Jacob Zuma’s appointment of Mines Minister Mosebenzi Zwane and former finance minister Des van Rooyen, as well as offering ministerial posts to Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas and former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor.
The allegations are that in return for these positions, these ministers would ensure the Guptas received government business and contracts, resulting in “state capture”.
Oakbay’s auditor KPMG, their banks FNB and Absa and their sponsor Sasfin Capital all cut ties with the Guptas in March.
Mentor on Saturday shared a photo of City Press’s front page teaser, commenting: “I told you they have left!” – News24
Source:Â http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/guptas-conceded-eff-20160410
