Hawks Confirm They’re Investigating Guptas for Sun City Wedding

Hawks, the special investigative unit of the South African Police Services (SAPS), today confirmed they are investigating the prominent Gupta Family, who have been at the centre of allegations of state capture in South Africa, for allegedly using public funds to pay for a lavish family wedding at Sun City in 2013.

In a press statement, DA Shadow Minister of Finance David Maynier said: “This morning, Lieutenant-General Yolisa Matakata, acting head of the Hawks, confirmed at a meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance, that “a team” was now investigating the charges I laid against Mosebenzi Zwane, Atul Gupta, Ajay Gupta, Rajesh Gupta, Ronica Ragavan and Kamal Vasram with the South African Police Service on 03 July 2017 in Cape Town.

“This follows revelations that public funds, meant to assist the poor, were allegedly washed through a complex web of front companies, and used to pay for Vega Gupta and Aakash Jahajgarhia’s wedding at Sun City in 2013.

“The charges include: racketeering, money laundering, assisting another to benefit from the proceeds of unlawful activities, and acquiring, possessing or using the proceeds of unlawful activities in terms of the Prevention of Organized Crime Act (No. 121 of 1998); and submitting false, or untrue, tax returns in terms of the Tax Administration Act (No. 28 of 2011).”

Maynier said the fact that public funds, which are meant to assist the poor, were allegedly used to pay for “President Jacob Zuma’s number one clients'” family wedding was “grotesque and must be investigated without fear or favour, by the Hawks.”

Watch 2013 footage of the lavish wedding

Top Billing’s late presenter Simba reported from the wedding of Aakash Jahajgarhia to Vega Gupta.

https://youtu.be/OsRwxMQYHyw