A plan to divest their local business interests does not absolve the Gupta family from an “ongoing investigation into state capture in South Africa”‚ Mmusi Maimane said on Monday.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) leader said the “weekend’s revelation that the notorious Gupta family has decided to sell all of their business interests in South Africa” had prompted him to write to the public protector for an update on the probe.

“It is now absolutely essential that we obtain an update from the public protector as to what progress has been made in this investigation‚ and an estimation as to when a preliminary report will be completed‚” Maimane said.

Gupta family says it plans to sell off South African holdings

He said he had called for the probe in March this year‚ “following a string of admissions by current and previous senior African National Congress members‚ indicating that the Guptas were involved in several illicit acts”.

These‚ Maimane said‚ “included offering cabinet positions in exchange for committing to make Gupta-friendly executive decisions‚ and ministers on what decisions to take‚ and when”.

While the DA leader said the public protector “had acceded to my request”‚ Thuli Madonsela’s spokesperson said in June that “she has said that she would need at least another R3-million” for such a probe.

“It must be made clear that the Guptas’ absence from business activity in South Africa does not absolve them from this pending investigation‚” Maimane said.

“Moreover‚ their proxies‚ which include (President) Jacob Zuma and several Cabinet ministers and board members of state-owned entitles (SOEs) still remain in government.

“Thus‚ the Guptas selling their business interests and fleeing the country still does not rid South Africa of their destructive influence.” – TMG Digital