The DA believes it is regrettable that the US acts decisively against the Gupta brothers while Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa’s ANC government has not yet acted against a single individual involved in state capture.
The US decided to impose sanctions against Ajay Gupta, his brothers, Atul and Rajesh, as well as Salim Essa. The US Department of Finance’s Office for Foreign Asset Management (OFOC) announced this move late Thursday.
This was done because of “their involvement in corrupt activities with government officials and government-controlled officials for their own personal gain,” said US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo.
Natasha Mazzone, the DA’s public affairs minister, welcomed the move.
The DA sees the US sanctions against the Gupta family’s carefully organized network of corruption as a positive step and believes it could result in several others also being held accountable for the crimes they committed at the expense of South Africa’s citizens.
The fact that the US authorities acted against the Guptas while the Zondo Commission on State Capability Investigation has already submitted so much evidence casts doubt on Pres. Ramaphosa’s intention to get rid of the culprits.
“None of the cases brought against high-ranking officials and politicians have a file or have been referred to the NPA for criminal prosecution despite the evidence available in the public domain.”
According to Mazzone, the action taken by the US government shows what could be done if there was political will to steer South Africa in the right direction.
“Mr. Ramaphosa, this single act by the US government has done more in the fight against state hijacking than you and your government have already done to take action against this incessant corruption and to undo it. “
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