Ruling ANC urges S. Africa government to investigate 'Gupta emails'

South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) party on Friday called on the government to establish veracity of the so-called "Gupta emails" involving President Jacob Zuma.

The ANC "has noted with grave concern reports of allegations contained in a series of emails leaked to the media dubbed Gupta emails", the party said in a statement emailed to Xinhua news agency.

The "Gupta emails", published last week by South African news outlets, further exposed the relationship between Zuma and the controversial Indian Gupta family and the extent of the family's alleged power over South Africa, said the report.

According to the emails, the Gupta family was awarded lucrative contracts with South African state-owned enterprises (SOEs) through its close ties with Zuma and senior government officials, including a 570-million-rand ($44 million) dairy project in Vrede, the Free State Province.

"These reports contain very worrying claims about the nature of the relationship between government and private interests," the ANC said.

The ANC said it viewed these allegations in a "very serious light".

"These allegations call into question the integrity and credibility of the government and the use of state resources under the direction of or to the benefit of private interests," ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said.

"Such matters cannot be allowed to fester in the public domain so the party calls on government to urgently seek to establish the veracity of these claims and explanation from those implicated, Kodwa said.

The ANC further reiterated the resolution of its National Executive Committee calling for the establishment of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into allegations of "state capture" without delay, Kodwa said.

The "Gupta emails" fueled public outcry over the alleged influence by the Guptas over Zuma in the appointment of cabinet ministers and CEOs of SOEs in what is known as "state capture".

Both Zuma and the Guptas denied the allegations.

--IANS

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