S. African Parliament resolves to undertake full inquiry into naturalization of Gupta family

CAPE TOWN, May 30 (Xinhua) -- South African MPs stressed the need on Wednesday to undertake a full inquiry into the naturalization of the controversial Indian Gupta family embroiled in allegations of state capture.

A final decision in this regard will be made later in the year, Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs said in a statement emailed to Xinhua.

The committee had expected to make a decision on Wednesday, but was informed that the Parliamentary Legal Services needed more time to gather further information that will guide the decision to hold the inquiry.

"In principle, the decision to hold a full inquiry still holds and what the committee is awaiting is comprehensive information on the matter," Committee Chairperson Hlomani Chauke said.

The information required is with the Department of Home Affairs and dates back to the initial application in 1995.

The report will also include recommendation on the format that the inquiry must take, according to Chauke.

"We will receive this report during the next session of Parliament, which is scheduled for August 2018," said Chauke.

The gathering of information will also include verification of corporate social responsibility initiatives that the Gupta family provided to support their application for early naturalization under exceptional circumstances, he said.

The committee remains committed to dealing with the matter and laying bare all processes that were undertaken to ensure that all procedures within the department were followed, Chauke said.

The wealthy Guptas, which allegedly keep close ties with former President Jacob Zuma and his family, have been accused of looting from the state coffers in collaboration with Zuma and a number of senior government officials, known as state capture. But both Zuma and the Guptas have denied the charges.

South African police have launched a manhunt for some of the Gupta family members, whose whereabouts remain unknown.

The Department of Home Affairs is accused of granting citizenship to the Guptas through undue procedure.

The Guptas, who entered South Africa in the early 1990s, were naturalized between 2002 and 2006. Enditem