If South African President Jacob Zuma steps down from his position after nearly a decade in power on account of numerous corruption allegations and opposition from his own African National Congress (ANC) party, his relationship with three Indian-origin brothers—and granting of illegal favours to them—will have played a major role in his downfall.
Zuma's proximity to the Gupta family has made headlines for several years now; in fact, South African opposition parties coined a portmanteau, Zupta, to refer to the unsavoury relationship.
The three brothers—Ajay, Atul and Rajesh— moved to South Africa from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh just before the first free elections in 1993. Their first major business venture, Sahara Computers, led the way to more ventures in mining, IT, media and other sectors.
While precise figures of the Guptas' wealth are unavailable, Atul Gupta was reported to be worth $773 million in December 2016.
The brothers were believed to be early backers of Zuma, who mounted 'opposition' in the ANC against then South African president Thabo Mbeki, who resigned in 2008.
One of Zuma's wives was an employee in a company owned by the Guptas, while a son and daughter also had held senior positions, which they resigned subsequently as criticism of the relationship increased.
The Guptas' extensive links to Zuma first came under major public scrutiny in 2013 when they were allowed use of an air force base near Pretoria—used previously only for heads of state visits—to ferry guests for a wedding in the family.
In March 2016, a South African minister alleged that a member of the Gupta family had offered to get him a promotion in the government the previous year.
Companies run by the Guptas have been accused of wrongdoing in multiple contracts related to mining, railways and arms contracts. Leaked emails in 2017 claimed that an associate of the Guptas had secured a kickback of $400 million in a contract for the supply of locomotives to a state-owned rail operator.
In 2016, the family had claimed that they would close their businesses in South Africa by the end of that year due to the frequent allegations.
In 2017, after mounting protests, four South African banks stated they had stopped dealings with companies associated with the Guptas. The family started increasing its presence in Dubai, where it reportedly owns a residence. However, it is unclear whether they have left South Africa altogether.
While the Guptas have been prominent in South Africa, they rarely made news in the country of their origin.
An investigation against the Bank of Baroda by the South African Reserve Bank over dealings with the Guptas could be the first 'issue' of wrongdoing connecting the Guptas with their home country. The Bank of Baroda reportedly financed the purchase of a house for one of Zuma's wives in 2010.
