Authenticity of Gupta state capture letter doubted

16 May, 2016 06:57

Indian businessmen Ajay and Atul Gupta speak to the City Press from the New Age Newspaper's offices in Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa on 4 March 2011.
Image by: City Press/Muntu Vilakazi / Gallo Images

The Department of Public Service and Administration has questioned the authenticity of a letter purportedly written by senior public servants requesting an investigation of allegations of "state capture" by the Gupta family.

Mahlodi Sam Muofhe, special advisor to Public Service Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi, confirmed yesterday that the letter, which according to the Sunday Times, was signed by 27 former directors-general, asked that a commission of inquiry be established to investigate the state capture claims.

The signatories said the allegations should be attended to with urgency or the country would be plunged into a governance crisis and the public service would collapse.

The letter's authors asked for an investigation of all tenders awarded to the Guptas or to Gupta-associated companies.

Muofhe said the letter "lacked factual specifics". The fact that it "wasn't on a formal letterhead", raised questions over its authenticity.

"It was couched in general terms," he said. "While we appreciate their concern, that is if indeed they are the crafters of the letter . our former directors-general... should by now know that the secretary-general of the ANC, Gwede Mantashe, made a clarion call to all those who allege that the 'state is or may be captured' to come and make proper substantiated submissions on the issue in his office."

Muofhe said the letter's authors - who, according to the Sunday Times, include Moe Shaik, Frank Chikane, Mpumi Mpofu, Gibson Njenje and Siphiwe Nyanda - should report any contravention of the law to law enforcement agencies.