The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) on Wednesday confirmed that the unit’s anti-corruption team is investigating the charges brought by the Democratic Alliance (DA) against President Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane and two members of the Gupta family, who have been accused of seeking to influence ministerial appointments.
“The dockets have been received and are being investigated. Once we have gone through them we will make a decision,” Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi told African News Agency (ANA).
He said the anti-corruption team would consider the DA’s submissions to police and also gather further information.
DA finance spokesperson David Maynier laid corruption charges against Atul Gupta, Ajay Gupta and Duduzane Zuma, in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act in Cape Town earlier this month after Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas confirmed persistent reports that he had been approached by the Guptas late last year to replace then finance minister Nhlanhla Nene.
This was followed by claims by a former minister and a Cabinet spokesperson that Zuma and the Gupta family had tried to exercise improper influence over their decisions.
The African National Congress (ANC) has sought to contain the scandal by promising an internal party investigation, but the opposition have insisted that there should be official probes by both the Hawks and the Public Protector.
Maynier said on Wednesday he hoped that the Hawks would lead an impartial investigation against the Gupta brothers and the president’s son, who is a business associate of the wealthy family of Indian immigrants.
“The allegations made by the deputy minister amount to prima facie evidence of corruption, in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (No. 12 of 2004), and we therefore hope the investigation will be conducted without fear, favour or prejudice by the Hawks,” he said.