South Africa: Reasons for Guptas’ naturalisation challenged
Published: 28/Feb/2018
Source: The Star / Independent online (South Africa)
By Mayibongwe Maqhina
Parliament – A R25 billion investment, employment of 7000 staff and R1million worth of charity in the country were deemed by Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba as “exceptional circumstances” to grant naturalisation of the Gupta family.
This emerged on Tuesday when the portfolio committee on home affairs received documentary evidence of the Guptas’ investment and charity contributions in the country.
Gigaba used his ministerial discretion to grant citizenship to the Guptas despite the fact that several members of the family had not lived in South Africa continuously for five years, which caused their initial application to be rejected.
During a briefing to the committee, director-general Mkuseli Apleni said the minister could under exceptional circumstances grant a certificate of naturalisation or citizenship.
Read further: https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/reasons-for-guptas-naturalisation-challenged-13517455