Atul’s boasts of ‘close’ links to Zuma

● A little over a month after the controversial Waterkloof air force base landing, Atul Gupta is said to have boasted that it was no secret his family enjoyed close ties with former president Jacob Zuma.

This is according to Rajesh Sundaram, a former employee of the Gupta family who worked as an editor for two months in 2013 at the now defunct television station ANN7.

Sundaram, through extracts from a book he had written that were admitted into the record of the state capture commission, lifted the lid on the close relationship between the Guptas and Zuma.

In the final instalment of the state capture report, chief justice Raymond Zondo found it was improbable that Zuma did not know about the controversial 2013 Waterkloof landing before it happened.

At the time, the Sunday Times reported the Guptas were given sensitive military information and maps with the full co-operation of government figures, allowing them to land 200 guests at the air force base ahead of a family wedding at Sun City. The bride’s father, Anil Gupta, wrote to the Indian high commissioner in February 2013 requesting assistance, as “landing at the airport will not only be highly convenient but will also ensure the comfort and safety of our high-profile guests”.

The latest state capture report’s chapter on the landing found that Zuma knew about it, considering his “admittedly close relationship” with the Gupta family.

Sundaram told the commission that in a meeting at the Gupta offices in Midrand on June 4 2013, which was unrelated to the Waterkloof landing, Atul Gupta was the only person who spoke.

Sundaram described the mood as tense because Atul alleged that South African media houses were not only white-owned, but had an axe to grind with the Guptas after the family announced it would launch a newspaper. He also said the scandal arising from the Waterkloof landing was a concerted effort to discredit the family.

He emphasised the close nature of the relationship his family shared with Zuma, adding that the controversy would blow over and their names would be cleared.

“Our family is close to President Zuma. We have never hidden it. We are a powerful family, and I am sure all the hype surrounding the landing will pass with time. We land at air force stations in India all the time, so what is wrong with landing our guests at an air force base here with all due clearances? We are being targeted,” he reportedly said.

“President Zuma knows our family well, and we have deep bonds with his family. We have enough influence in the government to clear our name and it is not just President Zuma — we have close links with senior ANC leaders. We are banias (merchants), we are Indian Jews, we do not keep all the eggs in one basket. Whoever becomes president of SA in the years to come, I can assure you he will be our friend,” said Atul.

He further attempted to justify the Waterkloof landing in spite of the backlash emanating from media reports on the family.

“President Zuma is on our side, and we helped him when he was down and out; he will help us through this as well. You know top ministers of the Zuma cabinet attended the wedding. This is a direct endorsement for us. The personnel against whom action has been taken will be reinstated very soon. We are a powerful family here and no-one can point a finger at us,” he boasted. One of those against whom action was taken was Bruce Koloane, the former chief of state protocol at the time of the landing. He told the commission he abused the powers of his office to facilitate the landing. Koloane was not only reinstated after his punishment, but he was rewarded by being appointed ambassador to the Netherlands. In his report, Zondo said it was reasonable and fair to assume that Atul Gupta knew well in advance that Zuma would undo the action taken against Koloane.

Zondo found that Koloane was guilty of abusing diplomatic channels and his promotion to a more senior role came less than a year after the controversial landing.

“The fact that he went to undue lengths to facilitate the landing of a plane carrying passengers who had no official status or office in the military base and to accord a special status to the Gupta family and their wedding guests does not appear to have affected his prospects of being appointed, as it should have. This is highly regrettable,” said Zondo.

Koloane was said to have told then defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s political adviser on the day of the Waterkloof landing that he was “under pressure from No 1” to secure clearance for the landing.

Koloane was found guilty of exerting undue influence on state officials to secure the landing and was suspended without pay for his role.

“Having regard to the evidence about ambassador Koloane’s role in the landing saga, his reference to the president [or No 1], his incomprehensible promotion and what Mr Atul Gupta told Mr Sundaram about the ‘reinstatement’ of people involved in the Waterkloof landing, and the poor impression that ambassador Koloane made as a witness to the commission, it is probable that he acted on the instructions of or at the request of president Zuma when facilitating the landing.

This is said notwithstanding his subsequent denial that President Zuma has asked him to facilitating the landing,” said Zondo.