Gigaba tweets detailed defence against Gupta allegations

Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba took to Twitter to lay out a case against allegations that he could have possibly aided the Gupta family in their naturalisation efforts.

Gigaba endured a grilling yesterday in by the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on Tuesday night in which he stated that the Gupta family did not receive any favours from himself or his department to gain early naturalisation.

The minister reiterated his position on social media in the middle of last night saying that given the time of his tenure as Home Affairs minister – including the time he was appointed – the narrative that he could have aided state capture through granting the Guptas naturalisation is false. Gigaba tweeted that Ajay Gupta’s naturalisation under his tenure didn’t happen as the Gupta brother did not renounce his Indian citizenship, which the process required.

I was appointed Home Affairs minister, the first time around, after the 2014 elections. Atul Gupta is recorded as having entered the country on 11 January 1994 and naturalized in 2002.

— Malusi Gigaba (@mgigaba) October 9, 2018

Rajesh Gupta is recorded as having entered the country on 22 April 1998 and naturalized in 2006. Ajay Gupta is recorded as having entered the country on 08 May 1999 and granted permanent residence in 2008.

— Malusi Gigaba (@mgigaba) October 9, 2018

Ajay – the only Gupta brother whose naturalization application was processed during my tenure – first submitted his naturalization application in 2013, before my appointment. It was not processed.

— Malusi Gigaba (@mgigaba) October 9, 2018

In 2014, after my appointment, Ajay and his family – his mother, his wife, and his two sons – subsequently submitted two separate naturalization applications.

— Malusi Gigaba (@mgigaba) October 9, 2018

These applications were rejected on the basis that, even though Ajay and his sons satisfied the requirements for naturalization, his mother and his wife did not.

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— Malusi Gigaba (@mgigaba) October 9, 2018

The department, subsequently, received an application for early naturalization iro of Ajay’s mother and his wife through one of its officials who, in turn, had received it, via email, from one Ashul Chawla.

— Malusi Gigaba (@mgigaba) October 9, 2018

This application was then referred to me, as required by law, via a submission, duly signed by all relevant line managers, recommending that I approve early naturalization iro Ajay’s mother and his wife.

— Malusi Gigaba (@mgigaba) October 9, 2018

In exercising my discretion, I duly applied my mind to the submission presented to me and accepted the recommendation, thus paving the way for the naturalization of all 5 members of Ajay’s family.

— Malusi Gigaba (@mgigaba) October 9, 2018

Ajay did not, subsequently, renounce his Indian citizenship, as required, and was, accordingly, not naturalized. As matters stand, he is not a South African citizen.

— Malusi Gigaba (@mgigaba) October 9, 2018

The narrative that I enabled state capture through DHA can only stand if it is alleged that it only started in 2015 and that its kingpins were Ajay’s mother, his wife and his two minor sons, the only Guptas who were naturalized by me.

— Malusi Gigaba (@mgigaba) October 9, 2018

“The narrative that I enabled state capture through DHA can only stand if it is alleged that it only started in 2015 and its kingpins were Ajay’s mother, his wife, and his two minor sons – the only Guptas who were naturalised by me,” Gigaba tweeted.

Naturally, the Home Affairs minister’s proclamations on the social media platform have prompted an array of responses – a lot of which are sardonic, to say the least.

Gigaba stop playing such games

— Victor Rihlampfu (@VictorRihlampfu) October 10, 2018

https://twitter.com/NtuliMbongisen1/status/1049859410737201157

https://twitter.com/Xolani__/status/1049924056798162945

When can we expect your resignation chief? You are a rotten potato 🥔

— Nketa (@Nketa11) October 10, 2018

south africans dont trust you and theres nothing that you can do or say to change the bad impression we all have of u. ur literally the worst. just have some self respect and resign. we dont need u. bye felicia.

— thetruthspeaker (@thetruthspeak1) October 9, 2018

Gigaba is also alleged to have facilitated the swift visa approval of Gupta-owned company employees and associates, according to an email trail obtained by amaBhungane and the Daily Maverick.

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