Parliament’s committee opted to postpone the matter to get more information from other people first.
Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba said he is disappointed that he would not be able to give testimony into the naturalisation of the Gupta family.
Gigaba was set to testify at the second phase of the Home Affairs Portfolio Committee’s probe into the naturalisation of the Gupta family.
The probe had to be adjourned as former department Director-General Mkhuseli Apleni had to rush to the airport to catch his flight back to Johannesburg. Apleni had taken a day off from his new job at Discovery Bank to be at the proceedings.
Gigaba said he was disappointed he did not get the chance to make presentations.
“I’m quite disappointed because I was ready, I was willing and I still am to ensure that we get to the bottom of all this inquiry. I think all is not lost because the postponement assist the committee to get better prepared”, he said.
The minister, who is considered as one of the role-players in the saga, was expected to detail the circumstances surrounding his decision to grant the family citizenship, despite them not meeting some of the requirements.
Gigaba overruled a senior department official’s refusal to grant the family naturalisation as they had not lived in the country for five years.
Other individuals required to testify at the inquiry are 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.
Thabo Baloyi
t.baloyi@politicalanalysis.co.za
