Home Affairs Minister Gigaba will now have to detail the circumstances surrounding his decision to grant the family citizenship, despite them not meeting some of the requirements.
Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba will be summoned to parliament, as part of a probe into the Gupta family’s naturalisation.
Three days have been set aside by the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs next week, to look into the process which saw the controversial family being granted naturalisation.
Gigaba overruled a senior department official’s refusal to grant the family naturalisation as they had not lived in the country for five years.
“The committee has concluded the initial phase of the inquiry (collection of all relevant information) and has identified gaps which need to be clarified by certain people to assist the committee to arrive at a conclusion. The investigation will be held from Wednesday to Friday”, said committee chairperson Hlomani Chauke.
Other individuals required to also testify at the inquiry are former Home Affairs director-general Mkhuseli Apleni, former Home Affairs employee Gideon Christians, The Head of Department of the North West Department of Education and Sports Development‚ Stephinah Semaswe and the department MEC‚ Sello Lehari.
The committee has said it is crucial for the identified individuals to appear before it, and plans to request that the Speaker summon those who are reluctant to appear.
“The committee considers it a must for the identified individuals to attend the hearings and will request the speaker to summon those that are not prepared to appear”
“This matter has been in the public domain without resolution for too long. The committee is thus intending to bring this matter to finality,” said Chauke.
Thabo Baloyi
t.baloyi@politicalanalysis.co.za
