S. Africa opposition wants Gupta family summoned over meddling allegations

The wealthy Indian Gupta family should be summoned to South African Parliament to answer questions in relation to its alleged interference in the country's politics, the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Tuesday.

This came after Vytjie Mentor, former MP of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), alleged that the Guptas had previously offered her the position of Minister of Public Enterprises.

Mentor claimed President Jacob Zuma was in another room when the Gupta family offered her the position.

The Guptas should appear at Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises to answer mounting questions over their capture of state entities, the DA said.

The Gupta family allegedly keeps close ties with Zuma and has huge economic interests in South Africa.

"There is growing evidence that the Guptas are complicit with President Zuma in capturing the apparatus of state for their personal gain," said Natasha Mazzone, DA Shadow Minister of Public Enterprises.

She urged both the Guptas and Zuma to provide the South African people with the answers they deserve.

Also on Tuesday, the ANC filed a complaint with Press Ombudsman against the Sunday Times for a slandering report, claiming that the ANC leadership was controled by the Gupta family.

Published on March 13, the Sunday Times report, titled "How the Guptas shopped for Finance Minister", claimed that the Gupta family had asked ANC Deputy Secretary General Jessie Duarte to offer the post of finance minister to Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas if he could "purge" those in the ministry who were against a deal to build nuclear plants.

Kodwa denied the report and demanded the Sunday Times' apologies to Duarte and the party. Enditem