DA: Failed Gupta extradition request ‘a national embarrassment’
The DA has labelled government’s failure to extradite the Atul and Rajesh Gupta from the United Arab Emirates as “a national embarrassment”.
The party’s Glynnis Breytenbach has at the same time questioned if there was ever any serious intention on the part of government to successfully extradite the corruption-accused Gupta brothers.
“This is a massive failure on the part of both institutions and a serious blow to holding the perpetrators of state capture accountable,” she said.
“The DA will immediately write to the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of Justice, requesting an urgent meeting with the DoJ and NPA to account for this unacceptable state of affairs. South Africans must no longer be fooled by this disregard for justice and deserve better.”
On Friday Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola reacted with “shock and dismay” at the news that the country had failed in extraditing the brothers.
Lamola briefed the media where he confirmed that the extradition hearing actually took place in February while the department was only alerted in April.
ALSO READ: Anger after UAE refuses to extradite graft-accused Gupta brothers
His reaction has drawn harsh criticism from all sectors of society.
Wayne Duvenage, who is the CEO of civil society group Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), also believes the fault lies with government.
“One would think so, because you would want them to be very on top of this situation. The Guptas were probably the most wanted people from damage to this country’s point of view. One would’ve imagined that the ambassador office in the UAE would've been really on top of this situation and it seems that was not the case.”
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has also criticised South Africa’s ambassadors to the UAE.
“It is extremely concerning that the country’s diplomats in the UAE who are paid to advance the country’s interests failed to duly follow the court proceedings and engage with their UAE counterparts and keep the South African government updated.”
Mashaba adds that ActionSA will consult with its lawyers to ensure that the Guptas are brought back to the country to account for their alleged crimes.
