New Home Affairs says Gigaba granted Gupta’s citizenship lawfully

Source: Destiny Reporter, 15/06/2017

Former Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba did nothing wrong in
granting the Gupta family South African citizenship, his successor
Hlengiwe Mkhize said on Wednesday


“I have looked at all the documentation and I thought [that] if I was
in a similar position I would have considered the request in a
favourable manner,” Mkhize said, adding that there was therefore no
reason to investigate the matter further.


The EFF released two letters on Monday which it claimed proved that
Gigaba â€" now Finance Minister â€" granted the Gupta family’s citizenship
irregularly.


The first letter, signed by a Home Affairs official in January 2015,
states that the family’s application had been rejected as they have
not complied with the law. It states that they could apply again in
December of that year, provided they had not spent more than 90 days a
year outside the country in the past five years.


However, Gigaba wrote to the family in May, approving their
citizenship.


Mkhize insists that Gigaba followed the letter of the law. She said
that in her three months in office she had received numerous
complaints from applicants. Front-line officials were to blame and
needed training as they had to implement complex legislation and
policies, she said.


The Gupta family qualified for citizenship as they had lived in South
Africa for more than five years and government gave priority for
naturalisation to investors and those bringing in skills.


She said the official only rejected their application because they had
left the country on business. As a minister she would have looked at
this and used her discretion to help.


“I don’t think, in all fairness, we can start questioning, unless we
amend the legislation and say people should not appeal to
ministers,”Mhkize said.


The EFF said it would go to court to challenge the decision to grant
the family citizenship.


Mkhize said calls to have their citizenship reviewed, following
revelations in the emails leaked from the family, would have to
consider the law.


The emails reveal that the family allegedly interfered with the
running of government and state-owned enterprises.
“If we were to make a decision you have to be legal, have the facts,
interpret those and apply relevant sections of policies and
legislation,” she said.
â€"News24Wire