DA wants Gupta Competition Commission report tabled in Parliament

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TMG Digital | 05 February, 2016 14:02

Atul Gupta. File photo.
Image by: Robert Tshabalala / © Financial Mail

The Gupta family‚ fresh from a savaging from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on Thursday‚ faced an attack from another opposition political party.

This comes‚ the DA’s Natasha Mazzone said‚ after “reports this week have confirmed that Competition Commission is to investigate the deal between Glencore‚ who owned Optimum Mines‚ and the Gupta-owned Tegeta Exploration”.

Mazzone said the deal was shrouded in “controversy and secrecy” as “Glencore was offered a much higher offer of R3.17-billion from a competitor‚ Endulweni Mining‚ which would have protected workers and provided them with an ownership share”.

“However‚ they settled for a deal with the Guptas’ Tegeta for a R2.15-billion‚ well below the alternative offer‚” she added.

“This emanates from reports that Gupta-owned Tegeta Exploration is the new owner of Optimum Coal – the contracted supplier of coal to Eskom – especially when considering that the Guptas are always front-runners to receive large government contracts even though they always fallen short meeting acceptable standards of delivery.

“Eskom is purchasing coal from soon-to-be Gupta-controlled Optimum’s mines that is export grade‚ a type of coal that is incompatible with Eskom’s turbines.”

Mazzone said that the “CCA mandates that the minister of trade and industry must upon receiving the report from the Competition Commission table it to Parliament within 10 days”.

Earlier on Thursday‚ EFF leadwer Julius Malema said the names President Jacob Zuma and the Guptas were synonymous with corruption.

“We’re not going to allow a South Africa that is sold over a plate of curry‚” Malema said‚ who also accused the family of running a “corrupt cartel”.

“We are not going to allow the Guptas to masquerade as legitimate businesspeople when they are not. We’re tired of talking about the Guptas.”

http://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2016/02/05/DA-wants-Gupta-Competition-Commission-report-tabled-in-Parliament

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