Gupta brothers (Ajay, Atul and Rajesh)

On 28 August the President's son Duduzane Zuma the chief instrument of Gupta patronage launched a scathing attack on Gordhan in an open letter denying all charges made against himself and the Guptas...

The Gupta brothers meanwhile are having to offload some of their assets as banks and financial institutions deny them access for fear of breaking strict money-laundering regulations...

The coalition known as Future South Africa which encompasses organisations such as Save South Africa Section 27 Freedom under Law and Corruption Watch seeks to tackle what it calls the 'state capture' by the Gupta brothers and to 'rebuild state integrity'...

) bribe by the Guptas to take over the Finance Ministry and do their bidding which they deny...

In recent months the Zuma-led faction of the ANC has suffered a string of political defeats and the extent of the Gupta brothers' political influence was exposed after some 200 000 emails between the Guptas and corporate and government stakeholders were leaked to the media two months ago (AC Vol 58 No 13 Factional fireworks threaten party)...

In recent months the Zuma-led faction of the ANC has suffered a string of political defeats and the extent of the Gupta brothers' political influence was exposed after some 200 000 emails between the Guptas and corporate and government stakeholders were leaked to the media two months ago (AC Vol 58 No 13 Factional fireworks threaten party)...

Although the allegations about the Gupta family's influence over appointments to state-owned entities and ministerial office and over state procurement are well-known and largely believed the eight-gigabyte cache of email traffic has provided hitherto-lacking corroboration...

Ministers and President Jacob Zuma's own Chief Operations Officer Lakela Kaunda have authenticated the accounts of their meetings and business dealings with the Guptas which are mentioned in the emails...

Records of meetings their timing and lists of those present have vindicated earlier reports and substantiated the recommendations of former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's report on 'state capture' by the Guptas (AC Vol 58 No 12 Zuma's chaos theory)...

Even Zuma loyalists are now openly criticising the Guptas...

Their focus is Madonsela's report which her successor as Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has not followed up and the danger that the Guptas and related patronage issues could influence December's conference...

They include a court ruling against the massive nuclear deal with Russia the cancellation of a deal with the state arms manufacturer Denel which heavily favoured the Guptas and the removal of both the Gupta-friendly Chief Executive Officer of power utility Eskom Matshela Koko and Eskom Chairperson Ben Ngubane (see Table)...

The state electricity corporation was facilitating major deals that enriched the Guptas (AC Vol 57 No 23 Starting the post-Zuma race)...

The deeply divided ANC is facing rival notions of its 'radical economic transformation' policy and its campaign against 'white monopoly capital' both of which have become rallying cries – aided by the London-based Bell Pottinger public relations company in defence of the Guptas (before it ended the contract in April) – for the pro-Zuma faction (AC Vol 58 No 10 Everyone's fault but Zuma's & No place to hide)...

What emerges from the leaked Gupta email cache is a system whereby the Guptas – through befriending Jacob Zuma's son Duduzane – have obtained influence with a series of party officials who once appointed to the cabinet on their recommendation have then directly chosen and appointed senior ministerial advisors...

The 'captured' ministers and advisors were then asked to pack the boards of state-owned enterprises with the Guptas' cronies enabling them to position their companies as the beneficiaries of billions of rands in state contracts...

The emails also include references to the multinational public relations firm Bell Pottinger which has acted on behalf of the Guptas – championing in particular the use of the phrase 'white monopoly capital' to deflect criticism...

Zuma also met Bell Pottinger representatives on two occasions in early 2016 by which time it was working for the Guptas and he specifically asked them to take care of his son Duduzane and ensure that his ex-wife was elected ANC President in December according to an account of the meetings by the company which AC has seen...

Duduzane had been found by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's report on state capture to be intertwined in a deeply corrupt relationship with the Gupta brothers and has facilitated access to state-funded contracts in return for his education participation in the business and a residence in Dubai...

Demands from the Public Protector an official watchdog and from anti-corruption activists into ties between the Gupta family's corporate empire and Zuma's family and political allies are deterring local investment...

A series of damning reports has detailed the influence of the Gupta family including bankrolling the further education and lavish lifestyle of Zuma's son Duduzane Zuma paying for his posh flat in Dubai where the Guptas also have a luxury bolt-hole and setting him up in business...

A series of damning reports has detailed the influence of the Gupta family including bankrolling the further education and lavish lifestyle of Zuma's son Duduzane Zuma paying for his posh flat in Dubai where the Guptas also have a luxury bolt-hole and setting him up in business...

More than 30 other NEC members who spoke did not take a position for or against the motion though most criticised the Guptas for their blatant patronage and corrupt relationship with Zuma's son and their role in 'state capture'...

One interpretation of this development is that the business owners perceive like much of the rest of the public that government contract awards are being dominated by the controversial Gupta family close business associates of President Zuma and his family...

Such newly mushroomed groups include: • Black First Land First (BLF) started by former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) member of parliament Mngxitama; we are told it is funded by the Guptas; • Progressive Professionals Forum (PPF) established by Zuma's ally Mzwanele 'Jimmy' Manyi former head of the Government Communication and Information System; • Black Business Council (BBC) also previously led by Manyi which has received 7 million rand (US$511 600) in funding from the Department of Trade and Industry in the past three years...

He was referring to the Guptas we understand...

' The UK-based PR firm Bell Pottinger was a key part of Zuma's public campaign to 'defend' himself Duduzane and the Guptas against the alleged 'campaign' against them by 'white monopoly capital' and to 'expose' its 'nefarious' actions to ANC supporters (see Feature)...

The SACP once a strong ally of Zuma's has fallen out with him over his firing of Gordhan his relationship with the Gupta family and the increasing corruption in his government...

Meanwhile a large government grant to the controversial pro-Zuma Gupta family has now become a loan; bad management at the national carrier South African Airways is coming under control; and attempts to impose accountability on a deal involving the state arms manufacturer Denel are being made...

The UK's largest public relations firm founded by Lord Timothy Bell a former election advisor to the late British Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Bell Pottinger has now cut its ties with the controversial Gupta family – which has a close business relationship with South African President Jacob Zuma and his family – after losing two major clients with ties to South Africa because of their concern about its contract with Oakbay Investments the Guptas' holding company (AC Vol 57 No 21 Stalwarts push for Zuma's exit)...

The UK's largest public relations firm founded by Lord Timothy Bell a former election advisor to the late British Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Bell Pottinger has now cut its ties with the controversial Gupta family – which has a close business relationship with South African President Jacob Zuma and his family – after losing two major clients with ties to South Africa because of their concern about its contract with Oakbay Investments the Guptas' holding company (AC Vol 57 No 21 Stalwarts push for Zuma's exit)...

' Bell Pottinger had secured the £100 000 ($130 000) per month contract with the Guptas last year to turn around their public image in South Africa...

After a storm of protest against the firm's operations on behalf of the Gupta family Bell Pottinger ended the contract last month...

Her report detailed the extent of the business and political influence held by the Guptas courtesy of Zuma's government...

However getting their fingers burnt by their association with the Guptas won't deter Bell Pottinger and their rivals from searching for political and corporate contracts on the African continent...

The ANC is also divided over Gigaba whose power derives from his leadership of the ANC Youth League from 1996 to 2004 between those who see him as a disaster because of his links to the notorious Gupta family and those who see in him a potential saviour of the party...

At Home Affairs Gigaba introduced a clumsy visa system which damaged the vital tourism sector and at Public Enterprises he was seen as devising sweet deals for the Gupta family (AC Vol 56 No 13 Save the children)...

He admits to meeting the Guptas on several occasions but insists that having them as friends does not mean he is under their influence...