Gigaba 'erred' by saying Atul is not SA citizen

Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba told journalist on Tuesday that Atul and Ajay Gupta are not South African citizens but were rather given permanent residency.

On Wednesday, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) confirmed that Atul and his brother Rajesh are in fact registered voters on Wednesday.

It reiterated that only South African citizens are able to register to vote. 

ALSO READ: IEC confirms Atul Gupta is registered to vote

The department's director-general Mkuseli Apleni attempted to clear up the confusion at a hastily-convened press conference in Pretoria.

Apleni insisted that Ajay - currently a fugitive - is not a South African citizen but that Atul Gupta was given citizenship in 2002. 

This was before Gigaba's first stint as Minister of Home Affairs. 

Apleni says it was never their intention to confuse the public.

 "We believe that what we have said is still the same expect yesterday there was an issue of Atul which we never delt with it, that's why we dealing with it today."