#GuptaLeaks: What you need to know so far

Over the past few days, a barrage of leaked email correspondence between the Gupta family and their associates published by the Sunday Times and City Press has given insight into state capture allegations implicating the family, President Jacob Zuma’s close friends, in wide-scale corruption.

The damning emails have allegedly shown the magnitude of the Guptas’ control over Cabinet ministers, state-owned companies and their board members, as well as the role of Zuma’s son Duduzane – an associate of the Guptas – in presidential matters.

On Thursday, what has been dubbed the #GuptaEmails, or #GuptaLeaks, took on a whole new turn following a series of reports by the Daily Maverick and amaBhungane claiming the existence of a much larger trove of emails, estimated to be between 100 000 and 200 000, including other documents detailing the trail of state capture.

Here’s what we know so far:

• Collen Maine: The Guptas, according to the emails, had their then CEO for Oakbay Investments, Nazeem Howa, prepare notes for ANC Youth League president Collen Maine advising him on how to respond to media questions.

ALSO READ: Collen Maine dismisses Gupta leaked emails as ‘utter rubbish’

• ‘Home affairs fixer’: Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba’s adviser and Denel board member, Thamsanqa Msomi, was allegedly the Guptas’ fixer in the department of home affairs. He reportedly received emails from the family’s associates requesting assistance for Visas for “clients”.

ALSO READ: Zwane linked to Indian businessman accused of money laundering

• Mosebenzi Zwane: The Guptas were sent Zwane’s CV a month before he was appointed the minister of mineral resources. They also allegedly had their staff coach him on how to handle media conferences, as well as answer questions about his relationship with the Guptas.

Zwane flew on a Gupta jet to Dubai, and they paid for his accommodation in Switzerland in December 2015.

• Faith Muthambi: Former communications minister Faith Muthambi (now the public service and administration minister) allegedly gave the Guptas confidential information on Cabinet meetings.

They are also reported to have intervened to extend Muthambi’s ministerial powers, so much so that she is alleged to have forwarded a presidential proclamation detailing her powers to the Guptas before it was signed by Zuma.

ALSO READ: Guptas paid billions in locomotive ‘toll’, alleges report

• Des van Rooyen: The Guptas paid for then finance minister (now the cooperative governance and traditional affairs minister) Des van Rooyen’s trip to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, after his appointment to the Cabinet in December 2015.

• SAA/Transnet: When Rajesh Naithani was fired as an SAA board member in October 2014, he sent an email to the CEO of Sahara Computers asking him to tell Tony Gupta to “get me in at Transnet”.

ALSO READ: Guptas had ‘insider’ on SAA board who ‘fed them information’

Naithani is also alleged to have given Tony Gupta updates on the happenings at the state-owned airliner.

• Waterkloof-gate: SA’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Bruce Koloane – the fall guy for the Guptas’ landing scandal at Waterkloof Air Force Base in 2013 – apparently asked the Guptas to sponsor a golf tournament for his 20th wedding anniversary.

• Zuma’s Dubai exit plan: It was also reported the family were “central to a scheme” for Zuma and his family to acquire residency in Dubai, but Zuma at the weekend denied the claims.

ALSO READ: It’s all fake news, say Guptas about damning state capture emails

• Matshela Koko: The family paid for a deluxe suite for former acting Eskom CEO Matshela Koko at the luxurious Oberoi Hotel in Dubai.

• Duduzane Zuma: In 2015, Zuma’s son, a shareholder in multiple Gupta-owned companies, bought an apartment worth nearly R18 million with “substantial assistance” from the Guptas and their associates at the Burj Khalifa building in Dubai.

ALSO READ: Guptas helped Duduzane Zuma purchase lavish R18m Dubai apartment – report

The family also allegedly paid for Duduzane’s lavish wedding in Durban in May 2015 at a cost of more than R500 000.

• Bell Pottinger: The Guptas former PR firm Bell Pottinger allegedly launched a smear campaign against National Treasury by portraying then deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas as corrupt.

Duduzane Zuma is reported to have led the charge against the ministry in a bid to counter reports about the family’s links to several senior government officials.

READ: The damning emails that prove ‘Guptas run SA’