Details: How the Guptas ‘captured’ Zuma’s son Duduzane

President Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane, according to a cache of leaked emails, appears to be kept and captured by the Gupta family.

The Daily Maverick and amaBhungane reported on Thursday that, according to the explosive emails detailing correspondence between the Guptas and their associates, the 35-year-old – who owns shares in several Gupta-owned companies – served as the key channel over the influence of official decisions, including his father’s.

• In 2012, the Guptas allegedly paid for Duduzane’s getaway trip to Mauritius with his girlfriend at the time.
• In 2015, Duduzane bought an apartment worth nearly R18 million with assistance from the Guptas and their associates at the iconic Burj Khalifa building in Dubai, the world’s tallest skyscraper.
• The family is also reported to have paid for Duduzane’s multimillion-rand wedding in Durban in April 2015, spending more than R500 000.
• The Guptas apparently know about Duduzane’s “most sensitive secrets”, with Sahara CEO Ashu Chawla having had access to his private Gmail account. Duduzane’s ex-girlfriend from 2012 is reported to have sent him “suggestive pictures” a day after his wife, Shanice Stork, told him she was pregnant with their first child.
• On the night (February 1, 2014) that Duduzane crashed his Porsche into a minibus taxi in Sandton, Johannesburg, the first person he called was Rajesh ‘Tony’ Gupta, the youngest Gupta brother. One passenger, Phumzile Dube, was killed, and three others were injured in the accident.

FILE PICTURE: Duduzane Zuma’s Porsche after an accident on February 2014 in South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sunday Times / Mzilikazi wa Afrika)

• When allegations abounded that Duduzane had allegedly impregnated another woman, then Oakbay CEO Nazeem Howa attempted to spin the story to the Sunday Sun. The family’s lawyer, Gert van der Merwe, reportedly gave advice on the terms of a R3.5 million maintenance settlement for the child and his mother.
• In March 2015, Duduzane was paid R300 000 a month in director’s fees, apparently more than any other director, including the Gupta brothers.
• Among other largesse Zuma’s son received were first-class flight tickets and fancy cars bought by Gupta group companies. He was also chauffeured by limousine and stayed at numerous five-star hotels.