South African MP says Prez Zuma root cause of 'Guptagate'

A government report released into the use of a military base by an influential Indian family for a high-profile wedding in South Africa has implicated suspended Chief of State Protocol Bruce Koloane and exonerated President Jacob Zuma and his ministers.

The report claims Koloane pressured military officials into allowing for a Gupta-chartered jet to land at Waterkloof Air Base under the premise that President Jacob Zuma in turn was putting pressure on him.

According to news24, the report also quoted the suspended official as saying that Zuma had given Transport Minister Ben Martins instructions to assist the Gupta family.

The report added that Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula had no objection for the Waterkloof landing.

According to the report, the presidency stated that at no point did the president give instructions to Ambassador Koloane or discuss the issue of the landing of the aircraft with him.

The report said that Koloane later admitted that neither Zuma nor any officials in the presidency, ministers and others had directed him to assist with the landing.

The report added that after the defence minister turned down a request by the Guptas to use Waterkloof in March, the family turned to the High Commission.

The report concluded that it was heartening that many government employees had questioned the events, but said their objections were swept aside by more senior colleagues.

It accused Koloane and Anderson of a serious dereliction of duty.

The findings were dismissed as a whitewash by one opposition speaker after the other, in a heated debate in the National Assembly.

According to the report, Democratic Alliance defence spokesperson David Maynier argued Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula should be fired for failing to inform senior officials that she had refused the Gupta family use of the air base.

But, he added that the root cause of the problem, which led to 'Guptagate', is President Jacob Zuma.