The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporter
SOUTH African opposition party – the Democratic Alliance (DA) — which laid corruption charges against the Gupta family, has been accused of being double faced following claims that it received donations from the family for election campaigns between 2004 and 2009.
The charge, under the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Activities Act, lists President Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane and the Gupta brothers — Atul and Rajesh (Tony).
The DA has been at the forefront of attacking the Gupta family over its alleged interference in appointment of cabinet ministers.
But according to a letter written to the Guptas by former DA leader Helen Zile, the party grew by 34 percent between 2004 and 2009 due to the family’s “generosity”. In her letter, Zille indicated that the DA gained three million votes with the help of the Guptas.
“Thank you so much for your generous donation to the Democratic Alliance. Your financial contribution helped us to achieve our three key objectives in the recent election; keeping ANC below the two thirds majority; significantly consolidating our position as the official opposition in parliament and winning an outright majority in the Western Cape,” reads part of the letter.
The South African media has been lawash with reports that the Gupta family was allegedly influencing key appointments in the South African government.
There are claims that the Guptas offered two senior ANC members’ cabinet posts before offering South Africa’s deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonasi to replace former minister Nhlanhla Nene.
The Guptas also stand accused of arm-twisting President Jacob Zuma to fire former Eskom boss Zola Tsotsi.
Addressing parliament on Thursday, President Zuma denied being influenced by the Gupta family, insisting that he was firmly in charge of cabinet appointments.
