Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

South African ‘state capture’: Who are the Gupta family?

South African ‘state capture’: Who are the Gupta family?

AT THE centre of South Africa’s long-drawn corruption scandal are the Indian-born Gupta brothers, accused of milking the erstwhile Jacob Zuma administration to plunder state wealth.

According to an inquiry commission report made public on Tuesday (4), the siblings - Ajay, Atul and Rajesh - wielded considerable influence on Zuma during his nine-year presidency to manipulate the system to their advantage.


With diversified business interests ranging from mining to real estate and media, they are believed to have amassed enormous wealth by means of “state capture”, a term used in South Africa to refer to systemic political corruption.

Atul became South Africa’s seventh-richest person in 2016 with a net worth equivalent to £569.62 million, based on his holdings in companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

The Guptas migrated from Saharanpur in north India and set up their base in Sahara Estate in Saxonwold, Johannesburg, where they launched Sahara Computers. The family arrived in South Africa in 1993 as white-minority apartheid rule crumbled, a year before Nelson Mandela won the country's first democratic elections. They furthered their interest with another firm, named Oakbay Investments.

The Guptas’ association with Zuma reportedly began in 2003 when he was the deputy president. Their relationship strengthened over the years and over time they became infamous after various corruption allegations.

According to the findings of the inquiry commission - set up in 2018 - the Guptas employed a “calculated strategy” to appropriate public funds from state-owned enterprises.

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) was "systemically and deliberately weakened, chiefly through the restructuring of its institutional capacity, strategic appointments and dismissals of key individuals, and a pervasive culture of fear and bullying".

It cited Zuma and a former SARS commissioner as playing critical roles in dismantling it.

Previously, a 2016 graft report had also indicted the brothers, saying they paid bribes to influence ministerial appointments and plunder state organs.

The Gupta family-owned TNA Media launched The New Age, a broadsheet newspaper in 2010 “to present a positive image” of Zuma’s African National Congress.

But the brothers allegedly manipulated the Government Communication Information Services and millions of rands were spent on the newspaper despite the absence of any credible readership information. The newspaper folded about eight years after its launch.

In 2013, the extent of the family's influence became obvious during a scandal known as “Guptagate". A chartered aircraft carrying more than 200 Indian guests for the wedding of a Gupta family member landed at the South African Air Force base at Waterkloof near Pretoria. The use of the restricted airbase by the family triggered national outrage, forcing the suspension of a senior South African diplomat and several police officers. Atul Gupta tendered an apology to the public following the incident.

The lavish wedding took place in Sun City with senior politicians and Indian film stars in attendance.

As their empire began to crumble, major banks withdrew their facilities to the family, complicating the payment of salaries to staff and the day-to-day running of their complex and cash-intensive businesses.

The Guptas fled South Africa after Zuma was ousted as the president in 2018; the brothers are now believed to be in Dubai. They deny wrongdoing.

In 2021, South Africa announced that Interpol had issued a "red notice" against two of the brothers - Atul and Rajesh - in connection with a £1.25 million contract awarded to the Gupta-linked company Nulane Investments to conduct an agricultural feasibility study.

Paul Holden, an investigator who runs an NGO alongside a former parliamentarian, said the estimated cost of the Guptas' illicit activities could have been as much as £2.3 billion.

More For You

Andrew Tate Sued by Ex-Girlfriend Brianna Stern Over Sexual Assault Allegations

Tate’s attorney, Joseph McBride, has dismissed the lawsuit

Getty

Andrew Tate faces sexual assault lawsuit from ex-girlfriend Brianna Stern

Social media personality Andrew Tate is facing a new lawsuit from his ex-girlfriend, Brianna Stern, who has accused him of sexual assault, battery, and gender violence. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, details allegations of abuse and an incident that allegedly took place at The Beverly Hills Hotel on 11 March 2025.

Allegations in the lawsuit

According to the legal complaint, Stern claims that Tate initially appeared as a "dream come true" but later became emotionally and physically abusive. The lawsuit describes a violent encounter at the hotel, where she alleges Tate physically assaulted and threatened her.

Keep ReadingShow less
Voices of Faith 2025: A journey through spirituality and wisdom

Soumik Datta (R) and Gurdain Singh Rayatt

Voices of Faith 2025: A journey through spirituality and wisdom

Mahesh Liloriya

The inaugural edition of Voices of Faith commenced on Friday at the iconic Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, marking the beginning of an extraordinary three-day festival exploring theological philosophies, interfaith dialogues, and the deeper essence of spirituality through conversations, music, and healing vibes.

Organised by Teamwork Arts, the creators of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) and JLF London, Voices of Faith is presented by the Kamini and Vindi Banga Family Trust, with the support of Tech Mahindra. Eastern Eye and Garavi Gujarat serve as the official media partners of this landmark event. This unique festival seeks to offer insights into navigating the complexities of modern life through the timeless wisdom enshrined in global religious traditions. It focuses on the universal ideals of compassion and interconnectedness that underpin the world’s faiths, fostering dialogue that transcends barriers and deepens mutual understanding.

Keep ReadingShow less
Court reopens Asian child sex offender's deportation case

Home Office successfully challenged a ruling that allowed him to remain in Britain (Photo for representation: iStock)

Court reopens Asian child sex offender's deportation case

A PAKISTANI man convicted of sexually assaulting a child under 13 will face a fresh deportation hearing after the Home Office successfully challenged a ruling that allowed him to remain in Britain, reported The Times.

The offender, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had initially won his case to stay in the UK after claiming he would face "inhuman or degrading treatment" if sent back to Pakistan due to his alcoholism.

Keep ReadingShow less
India launches Operation Brahma to aid quake-hit Myanmar

Rescue teams work to save residents trapped under the rubble of the destroyed Sky Villa Condominium development in Mandalay on March 29, 2025. (Photo by SAI AUNG MAIN/AFP via Getty Images)

India launches Operation Brahma to aid quake-hit Myanmar

INDIA has swiftly responded to the devastating earthquake in Myanmar by launching Operation Brahma, sending emergency relief and rescue teams to the disaster-stricken nation.

A C-130J military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force landed in Yangon on Saturday (29), carrying 15 tonnes of relief supplies including hygiene kits, blankets and food parcels. The aid mission comes after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday (28), killing more than 1,000 people and injuring nearly 2,400 others.

Keep ReadingShow less
Britain’s happiness crisis: UK hits record low in global wellbeing rankings

Pakistan stands at 109th place out of 147 countries

Britain’s happiness crisis: UK hits record low in global wellbeing rankings

THE UK has experienced a significant blow to its national morale, plummeting to 23rd place in the World Happiness Report for 2025 – its lowest ranking ever – despite being the world’s sixth richest nation.

Released to mark the UN’s International Day of Happiness last Thursday (20), the report provided a nuanced exploration of national contentment that extends far beyond economic measurements.

Keep ReadingShow less