Guptas, ministers and Zuma family members implicated in State Capture Report
President Jacob Zuma has to appoint a judicial commission of inquiry to extensively probe allegations of state capture - which include him.
This has been ordered by former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela in the controversial state capture report - which was released this afternoon.
Madonsela recommends that the commission complete its task and present the report with findings and recommendations to the President - within 180 days.
ALSO READ: BREAKING: State capture report to be published today
The investigation revealed that Co-operative Governance Minister Des Van Rooyen was at the Gupta mansion on the 8th of December last year - a day before President Zuma appointed him as Finance Minister, after firing Nhlanhla Nene.
READ THE FULL REPORT HERE
It's one of the seven times in as many days that he visited the Guptas Saxonwold estate - before his appointment to Treasury.
Van Rooyen is also said to have made 17 phone calls during his visits to the Gupta compound.
But during his interview with Madonsela - Ajay Gupta denied Van Rooyen visited them at their home.
The report also revealed that between August and November last year- Eskom CEO Brian Molefe was placed in Saxonwold 19 times.
It was also found that between August 2, 2015 and March 22, 2016 - Molefe called Ajay Gupta 44 times.
Members of the Gupta family and President Zuma’s son, Duduzane, have secured major contracts with public utility Eskom - through Gupta-owned Tegeta Resources & Energy.
The report found that Molefe's relationship with the Guptas - as well as directors of Tegeta - therefore cannot be ignored.
#StateCaptureReport, #CrookedZuma, #GuptasMustFall, Eskom paid to Tegeta and amount of R 1,161,953,248.41, pic.twitter.com/wjDLTku4Xo
— Corrupt South Africa (@SAcorrupt) November 2, 2016
The investigation followed three complaints about alleged improper and unethical conduct by the president and other state functions -relating to their relationship with the Gupta family.
The Public Protector says the office does not have the resources to fully probe all the issues involved, and has also requested the National Treasury to ensure that the commission is adequately resourced.
The DA - whose leader, Mmusi Maimane was among the three complainants in the state capture probe - has been vocal about the findings.
Some of the damning findings that Adv Madonsela makes in her #StateCaptureReport:
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) November 2, 2016
Please RETWEET far & wide. SAns must know the TRUTH! pic.twitter.com/3hYs19VFLH
If ANC used Nicholson judgment (overturned on appeal) to recall Thabo Mbeki, what will they do to Jacob Zuma following State Capture report?
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) November 2, 2016
Meanwhile, the ANC has responded briefly to the release of the report.
ALSO READ: Speaker is keeping state capture report under lock and key: ANC
The #ANC will study the #StateCaptureReport & issue comment on it tomorrow, 3rd November 2016.
— MyANC (@MYANC) November 2, 2016
#ANC has noted the release of the Public Protector's report into allegations of state capture. #StateCaptureReport
— MyANC (@MYANC) November 2, 2016