SA Public Protector to get additional funds to investigate Gupta family

The office of South Africa’s public protector said on Thursday it will receive additional funds to investigate whether President Jacob Zuma was influenced by the wealthy Gupta family to make appointments.

The South African treasury has committed to give the public protector R1.5million to pursue the investigation, that is half of the R3million the protector had requested.

The prominent Gupta family is accused of being behind the president’s dismissal of former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene in December, a move which rattled investor confidence and triggered calls for the president’s resignation.

The scandal surrounding the Gupta family took a dramatic turn earlier this year after the deputy finance minister said they had offered him his boss’s job.

President Zuma has denied doing anything improper and the Guptas have also denied making job offers to anyone in government.

The accusations led to four major South African banks cutting links with the Gupta-owned holding company.

Reuters