For months, ever since the
FinMin Flip Flop on what is now known as 9/12, the alleged State Capture by the
now infamous Gupta family via its ties with the Presidential Zuma family has
utterly dominated the South African news sphere and even more so after the
shock announcement of a Gupta ministerial offer made to Deputy Minister of
Finance Mcebisi Jonas on 17 March 2016. The big question, however, is whether
or not this outrage is actually warranted or more of a knee jerk trial-by-media
reaction of the South African public which has previously proved itself
predisposed to such types of overreactions?
I had originally planned to
construct some sort of timeline of events from the Guptas first meeting
President Zuma in 2003 to the reports of them landing back in India on 11 April
2016, but after hunting for news clippings and other facts for the better part
of a week, I have discovered that there is simply too much information in terms
of people events, dates and possible outcomes that much more would be required
in order to lay this beast completely bare, if that is even possible without a
Judicial Commission of Enquiry that has not been appointed by the ANC.
Given the vast scope of the
Gupta Busines Empire, I have no choice but to turn this inquiry into a series
of posts evaluating the saga from numerous angles that will ultimately culminate
in a series of conclusions and deductions, but also the many unanswered
questions that it may render, even if I know to an almost absolute certainty
that such an exposé will most likely be incomplete.
Before I continue, let me
categorically state that I am not a detective, private investigator or even a
journalist, I am an ordinary guy who occasionally pens a perfectly ordinary
blog, but this seems important enough so first things first, the timeline. This
timeline has been put together (as I said) through Google searches of news
reports involving the Guptas, other key individuals and events that I feel are
relevant to the saga. As a result, some of the dates mentioned below might not
be entirely accurate and text in italics represent unverified allegations made
by other individuals.
[Unknown] 1999: Pravin Gordhan appointed as
Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
2003: The Gupta family meets Jacob Zuma (then
Deputy President of the Republic) for the first time at a function hosted by
the Guptas at Sahara Estate.
2005: The Gupta family supports Jacob Zuma
during his power struggle against incumbent President Thabo Mbeki in the wake
of the Shabir Shaik Corruption Trial. Zuma was fired from the Deputy Presidency
on 14 June 2005. In the following years, Sahara Computers appoints members of
the Zuma family as employees or board members.
18 December 2007: Jacob Zuma is elected ANC
President at the Polokwane Elective Conference.
28 December 2007: The National Prosecuting
Authority indicts Jacob Zuma to appear on 783 fraud and corruption charges in the
High Court.
[Unknown] 2008: President Zuma’s daughter
Duduzile is appointed to the Board of Directors of Sahara Computers.
8 July 2008: Duduzane Zuma acquires 25 shares
(25%) of Mabengela Investments at R 1 per share.
28 July 2008: Mabengela Investments acquires
7.19% (60 shares) of Gemini Moon Trading 254.
September 2008: President Thabo Mbeki recalled
from the Presidency due to the breakdown in the working relationship between
himself and the newly elected NEC of the party.
30 September 2008: Duduzane Zuma appointed to
Board of Directors of Westdawn Investments
1 February 2009: Duduzane Zuma appointed to
Karibu Hospitality Board of Directors.
3 February 2009: Mabengela Investments acquires
a further 102 shares in Gemini Moon Trading 254 for a total ownership stake of
17.3%. At this point Gemini held 28% ownership of Westdawn Investment/JIC
Mining.
6 April 2009: Following months of legal battles
and court appearances, the NPA drops all charges against Jacob Zuma due to
procedural technicalities and political interference by former President Mbeki
in what has become known as the “Spy Tapes Saga.”
9 May 2009: Jacob Zuma is sworn in as President
of the Republic.
10 May 2009: Pravin Gordhan appointed as
Minister of Finance to succeed Trevor Manuel.
3 June 2009: Duduzane Zuma appointed to Dixie
Investment Board of Directors.
18 June 2009: Duduzane Zuma acquires a further
20 shares in Mabengela Investment; total ownership 45%
1November 2009: Duduzane Zuma appointed to the
Boards of Directors of Islandsite Investments 254 and Islandsite Investments
255.
[Unknown] 2010: The Gupta family buys Shiva
Uranium valued at R270 million with a R250 million loan from the Industrial Development
Corporation (IDC)
April 2010: Imperial Crown Trading 289 (ICT),
enters into a legal dispute regarding the 21.4% of the prospecting rights at
the Sishen Iron Ore Mine (one of the world’s largest iron ore mines) with
ArcelorMittal SA and Anglo American due to the Department of Mineral Resources
awarding of prospecting rights to ITC after Arcelor failed to renew its license
in time. ICT is 50% owned by Jagdish Parekh, an executive in a group of
Gupta-owned companies. Parekh reportedly holds the shares on behalf of
Gupta-owned JIC Mining (of which he is Managing Director), which is partly
owned by Duduzane Zuma through Mabengela and Gemini Moon Trading.
14 April 2010: Duduzane Zuma appointed to Shiva
Uranium Board of Directors
June 2010: TNA media is founded by the Gupta
family
10 June 2010: Duduzane Zuma appointed to
Dunrose Investments 180 Board of Directors
29 July 2010: Duduzane Zuma appointed to Sahara
Holdings Board of Directors
26 August 2010: Duduzane Zuma appointed to
Afripalm Horizons Board of Directors <Company currently in process of
deregistration>
October
(?) 2010: Atul Gupta allegedly tells ANC MP Vytjie Mentor that she would be
Public Enterprises Minister within a week if she assisted in SAA dropping its routes
to India once appointed. This was presumably in order to open the routes up to
be serviced by Gupta owned Jet Airways.
1 November 2010: President Zuma shuffles his
Cabinet, replacing Barbra Hogan with Malusi Gigaba. Fikile Mbalula is sworn in
as Minister of Sports and Recreation;
Julius Malema of the EFF alleges that he was present when one of the Guptas
informed Mbalula of his new position, long before he received any official
information.
23 November 2010: Duduzane Zuma appointed to
CRCC Afripalm Construction Board of Directors <Company currently in process
of deregistration>
6 December 2010: TNA Media published the first
edition the New Age newspaper with an overt and stated bias in favour of the
Government/ANC.
[Unknown]
2010: Themba Maseko, then CEO of the Government Communications and Information
System (CGIS) meets Ajay Gupta at the latter’s Saxonworld home upon the
instruction of President Jacob Zuma. During the meeting Gupta tells Maseko that
he wants Government advertising funding channelled to the New Age Newspaper.
Zuma allegedly told Maseko that “the Gupta brothers need your help.”
[Unknown] 2013: The repayment term for the R250
million IDC loan relating to the purchase of Shiva Uranium lapses with the loan
partially unpaid. The IDC decides to convert the debt (accounting for 90% of
the company’s purchase price) to an equity share of 3%.
April 2013: The Guptas’ private plane lands at Waterkloof
Air Force Base and the 217 guests to a family wedding are given a blue light
escort to Sun City. Chief of State Protocol Bruce Koloane authorised the
landing by using Zuma’s name with the latter cancelling his attendance of the
wedding after the incident, Guptagate, became public.
19 April 2013: A Daily Maverick article (by
Mandy de Wall) reports that Government related advertising through State-owned
Enterprises, Government Departments and other Government linked organisations
were responsible for 60% (some R75 million) of the New Age Newspaper’s
advertising revenues for 2012, with Telkom investing some R31 million with the
paper during the year.
August 2013: Africa News Network (ANN7), owned
by Infinity Media Networks launches on DSTV. Infinity’s ownership is comprised
of Oakbay Investments (35%), Essel Media (35%), BEE partner Mabengela
Investments (21%) and reserved shares 9%.
December 2013: The Constitutional Court rules
against ICT with regards to the mining rights at Sishen Mine.
26 May 2014: Nhlanhla Nene appointed as
Minister of Finance, moving Pravin Gordhan to Minister of Cooperative
Governance and Traditional Affairs.
July 2014: Iqbal Sharma obtains a stake in VR
Laser Services, the company in the lead to secure some R50 billion in tenders
from Transet, while serving as Chairman of the committee overseeing the tender
process. VR Laser Services is 25% owned by Gupta Mining Company JIC Mining
Services, while a business “associate” Salim Essa owns 75%. Duduzane Zuma also
got a stake through Westdawn Investments. The company’s current address is the
same office used by other Gupta businesses.
September 2014: Mark Pamensky is appointed as a
non-executive member the Oakbay Minerals and Resource Board of Directors.
27 September 2014: Tom Moyane takes office as
Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service.
28 November 2014: Oakbay Resources and Energy
listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange
December 2014: Mark Pamensky is appointed to
the ESKOM Board of Directors.
August 2015: Glencore’s Optimum Colliery puts
itself under financial rescue following a drop in coal prices and a R2.2
billion fine imposed on it by ESKOM for the supply of sub-specification coal to
the Hendrina Power Plant in Mpumalanga. The company suspended its contract
three weeks later.
September 2015: Former Free State MEC of
Agriculture, Mosebenzi Zwane, is appointed and sworn in as Minister of Mineral
Resources under dubious circumstances, circumventing normal Ministerial
appointment procedures.
November 2015: Minister Zwane accompanies a
delegation of Tegeta Exploration and Resources (Gupta owned) to Switzerland to
help negotiate Glencore’s sale of the troubled Optimum Coal mine in Mpumalanga.
ESKOM is reportedly keeping the R2.2 billion fine in place.
25 November 2015: Mabengela Investments acquire
317 shares (28.5%) in Tegeta Exploration and Resources at a cost of R100
million; Duduzane Zuma’s personal stake, 12.825%.
November
2015: Members of the Gupta family allegedly offers the post of Minister of
Finance to Mcebisi Jonas (in the presence of Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane) on the
condition that he approves the Russian Nuclear Power deal and get rid of four
prominent, high ranking officials at the Treasury.
November/December 2015: David van Rooyen and
Minister Mosebenzi Zwane visit Dubai, United Arab Emirates, while members of
the Gupta family is in the city. Van Rooyen insists that it was a private, one
day visit before his appointment as Minister of Finance.
9 December 2015: Jacob Zuma replaces Nhlanlha
Nene as Finance Minister with backbencher David van Rooyen, allegedly due to
the former’s resistance the R1 trillion Russian Nuclear deal and, presumably, to make way for the creation
of Denel Asia. Allegedly, the Russian Nuclear Deal is signed by the Zuma
Cabinet on the same day.
13 December 2015: Under vast pressure from both
the ANC and Business Sector, Jacob Zuma has no choice but to recall David van
Rooyen and replace him with former Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, relegating
van Rooyen to being Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
15 December 2015: Tegeta Exploration and
Resources is declared the preferred bidder to buy Optimum Coal mine and to
continue the Mine’s ESKOM contract for coal to be delivered to the Hendrina
Power Plant until December 2018.
20 December 2015: In a letter to Minister
Lindiwe Sisulu, former Finance Minister Trevor Manuel alleges that a childhood
friend of van Rooyen, Gaddafi Rabotapi, knew about van Rooyen’s appointment a
month before he was sworn in.
21 January 2016: Mabengela opens a new account
with Standard Bank; Duduzane Zuma sole authorised signatory.
29 January 2016: VR Laser Services announces
that it has entered into a joint venture with DENEL to create DENEL Asia
without prior approval by the Minister of Finance and Minister of Public
Enterprises.
14 February 2016: Africa Confidential reveals
two Gupta allies, Ian Whitley and Mohammed Bobat, as mystery advisors to
Minister van Rooyen who showed up at the Treasury before van Rooyen was even
sworn in as Finance Minister.
19 February 2016: Business Day reveals that
advisor to Minister of Mineral Resources Mosebeni Zwane, Malcolm Mabaso, has
ties to the Gupta family through a Directorship at Premium Security and
Cleaning Services along with confirmed Gupta business partner Salim Essa.
26 February 2016: Mabengela is gifted another
71 shares in Tegeta Exploration and Resources to maintain ownership at 28.5% at
a value of just under R96 million.
10 March 2016: EFF Chief Whip Floyd Shivambu
alleges in a press release that the Guptas have moved R2 billion in funds from
South Africa to the United Arab Emirates while the normal 10% levy on such
transfers imposed by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has not been
deducted from the transfer.
16 March 2016: Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi
Jonas publicly alleges that the Guptas offered him the position of Finance
Minister prior to the sacking of Nanlha Nene on 9 December 2010.
17 March 2016: Former ANC Member of Parliament
reveals that Atul Gupta offered her the position of Minister of Public
Enterprises to replace Barbra Hogan just prior to the Cabinet-reshuffle in
November 2010.
18 March 2016: Former ESKOM chairman Zola
Tsotsi claims that he was removed from the ESKOM Board of Directors because she
refused to facilitate business deals that would benefit Gupta owned businesses.
18 March 2016: The Dominican Order of Catholic
Priests asks the Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, to investigate the claims
of the Guptas’ influence over Ministerial appointments.
20 March 2016: The Sunday Times report how Themba
Maseko‚ former CEO of the Government Communications and Information System
(GCIS)‚ told how President Jacob Zuma personally called him to ensure that he
met the Gupta brothers at their Saxonwold compound in Johannesburg.
20 March 2016: ANC Secretary General invites
party members with information about the Gupta state capture to come forward
and provide proof of such influence at the ANC Headquarters at Luthuli House,
asking such members to refrain from making the information public.
21 March 2016: Private investigator Paul
o’Sullivan allegedly sends an email to the Directorate for Priority Crimes
(Hawks) daring them to arrest him when he flies to London on 4 April 2016,
since he would go an expose the “Zuptas to the world.” The claims include that “the
Zupta crooks infiltrated and criminalised SAA, the SAPS, the Hawks and National
Prosecuting Authority.”
23 March 2016: The Special Investigations Unit
(Hawks) announce an investigation into the affairs of the Guptas and Duduzane
Zuma.
31 March 2016: EFF leader Julius Malema alleges
that President Jacob Zuma couriered some R6 billion of the Guptas’ money to
Dubai on a recent visit.
1 April 2016: International auditing firm KPMG
ends its fifteen year relationship with the Guptas, citing the association risk
to its public image as primary reason.
3 April 2016: ABSA bank and investment bank
SASFIN cut all ties and closes all accounts linked to Oakbay and the Guptas
4 April 2016: Paul o’Sullivan arrested at O.R
Tabo International Airport for allegedly “contravening the Immigration Act.”
6 April 2016: First National Bank (FNB)
indicates that it will close down all accounts linked to the Guptas; no reason
cited.
7 April 2016: Atul Gupta, Ajay Gupta, their
wives and five assistants leave the country late at night from Lanseria Airport
carrying a mountain of luggage.
8 April 2016: The Guptas and Duduzane Zuma
announce their immediate resignations from all Boards of Directors of Oakbay
and other Gupta linked companies in separate statements issued to the press.
Zuma also indicates that he will “exit” all his investments from the group of
companies.
10 April 2016: City Press reveals Duduzane’s
Equity share in various companies, that which could be valued, to be worth more
than R700 million.
11 April 2016: Using planefinder.net, News24
reveals that the plane carrying the Guptas landed in Dubai before taking off
(at 00.10 on Monday 11 April 2016) for Nakur, India, 30 kilometers from their
ancestral town of Saharanpur.
14 April 2016: Pictures and reports emerge of
President Zuma being present at the opening of a weapons factory in
Saudi-Arabia during his latest state visit. The factory is reportedly a joint
venture between Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) and Saudi
Military Industries Corporation (Samic).
I did call
it a beast, didn’t I? But fear not, we will clear all this up in due time.
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