Gigaba defends Gupta decision
Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba has defended the manner in which he handled the naturalisation request by the controversial Gupta family.
In a statement, Gigaba denied any wrongdoing.
Gigaba granted the Gupta family citizenship while Minister of Home Affairs, even though the request was earlier refused by the department.
"The Minister lawfully approved the application in terms of South African Citizenship Act, 1995 (Act 88 of 1995) that was amended by the South African Citizenship Amendment Act, 2010 (Act No. 17 of 2010)). The Act vests the authority on the Minister of Home Affairs to grant a certificate of naturalisation as a South African citizen to any alien who satisfies requirements for naturalisation," says ministry spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete.
Tshwete says there was nothing unusual in the way the naturalisation certificates were granted.
"Similar courtesies have been extended to prominent businessmen, including executives of multi-nationals, and sports people. There is no impropriety on the part of the Minister in relation to how the application in question has been handled.
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The ministry says it is unfortunate that the focus of the nation is diverted towards 'spurious sideshows' when the country is faced with massive economic challenges.
"The minister calls on all sectors of South African society to channel their energies on the urgent priority of boosting economic growth and rebuilding confidence in the economy following the credit-rating downgrades," says Tshwete.
Tshwete says media coverage on the matter has been unfair and inaccurate.
"It is not true that Minister Gigaba 'opened the gates' for the Gupta family; the Gupta family has been permanent residents in South Africa since 2008.
"Furthermore, there is no 'bombshell' in relation to this matter, given that everything was done within the prescripts of the law."