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Cape Town - The Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Monday that it would submit a written parliamentary question probing whether State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele intervened to stop an investigation into the "inappropriate influence" of the Gupta family.
According to a statement from the DA's Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans David Maynier, two years ago an investigation into the Gupta family was reportedly ordered by the then director general of the State Security Agency’s (SSA) domestic branch, Gibson Njenje.
But, according to the statement, Cwele reportedly intervened to stop the probe.
"This reportedly caused a massive fallout – referred to as the 'spy wars' at the time – between the minister and top management of the SSA.
"The entire top management – SSA director general Jeff Maqetuka, SSA domestic branch director general Gibson Njenje and SSA foreign branch director-general Moe Shaik – eventually resigned," the statement said.
Maynier said that if it is true that Cwele intervened to stop the investigation, "then it would be very difficult to conclude that he intervened for any other reason than to protect President Jacob Zuma".
"The minister would have known that any investigation into the “inappropriate influence” of the Gupta family would effectively have been an investigation into President Jacob Zuma himself," he said.
We cannot be sure but had an investigation been conducted, the security breach at Waterkloof Air Base in Pretoria, and the subsequent political fallout, may never have taken place, Maynier said.
The Guptas caused a furore last week when a chartered jet carrying guests to the Gupta wedding was allowed to land at the Waterkloof.
Several officials, including the chief of state protocol at the department of international relations and co-operation, have been suspended following the incident.
Government had appointed a team of directors general to investigate all the circumstances surrounding the incident and was expected to report back within seven working days
According to a statement from the DA's Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans David Maynier, two years ago an investigation into the Gupta family was reportedly ordered by the then director general of the State Security Agency’s (SSA) domestic branch, Gibson Njenje.
But, according to the statement, Cwele reportedly intervened to stop the probe.
"This reportedly caused a massive fallout – referred to as the 'spy wars' at the time – between the minister and top management of the SSA.
"The entire top management – SSA director general Jeff Maqetuka, SSA domestic branch director general Gibson Njenje and SSA foreign branch director-general Moe Shaik – eventually resigned," the statement said.
Maynier said that if it is true that Cwele intervened to stop the investigation, "then it would be very difficult to conclude that he intervened for any other reason than to protect President Jacob Zuma".
"The minister would have known that any investigation into the “inappropriate influence” of the Gupta family would effectively have been an investigation into President Jacob Zuma himself," he said.
We cannot be sure but had an investigation been conducted, the security breach at Waterkloof Air Base in Pretoria, and the subsequent political fallout, may never have taken place, Maynier said.
The Guptas caused a furore last week when a chartered jet carrying guests to the Gupta wedding was allowed to land at the Waterkloof.
Several officials, including the chief of state protocol at the department of international relations and co-operation, have been suspended following the incident.
Government had appointed a team of directors general to investigate all the circumstances surrounding the incident and was expected to report back within seven working days
