SA ambassador to Netherlands a Gupta gift that keeps on giving – report

When Bruce Koloane was suspended for his role in the Waterkloof airbase scandal, where the Guptas were allowed to land a private aircraft ferrying mainly Indian guests to a Sun City wedding, he was destined for a discreet role as the Guptas’ business fixer.

Information patched together by amaBhungane from the #GuptaEmails shows that soon after being posted to the Hague as South Africa’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Koloane got to work advancing Gupta business interests.

A few months after being posted to the Netherlands in 2015, following his removal as chief of state protocol at the department of international relations and cooperation (Dirco), Koloane facilitated business negotiations between the Guptas and a Dutch greenhouse systems manufacturer, at times using an embassy email address to communicate.

According to the trove of emails amaBhungane based their report on, Koloane’s time an as ambassador also included working as a conduit for the Guptas on a prospective coal-mining deal in KwaZulu-Natal. The investigation uncovered that this happened during the Waterkloof saga.

Around July 2015, Koloane is alleged to have sent various emails to KPG Greenhouses’ Marco van ‘t Hart using Dirco’s official email address, and included Herman van der Kroef, the department of trade and industry’s representative to the Netherlands.

READ MORE: Government denies Guptagate claims

The amaBhungane report stated: “It is clear from the email that Koloane and Van der Kroef were representing someone else’s interests during their visit to the company, situated a 30-minute drive away from the South African embassy in The Hague’s city centre.”

The report alleges that, a month after the email exchange between KPG Greenhouses owner André Koppert and the Guptas, Koloane again contacted a member of the Gupta business network. He was arranging for two associates to stay at the Guptas’ luxury Clifftop Lodge in the Welgevonden private game reserve in Limpopo.

‘Dear Ashu. Please find attached a geological report for a coal asset as discussed with Tony.’

The publication concluded from the information gathered that the guests stayed for two free nights.

In October 2013, six months after the infamous incident in which the wealthy family landed a civilian plan at a military base, Koloane is said to have received documents from a certain Funokwakhe Cedric Xulu containing a study done on a prospective coal-mining site.

“Dear Ashu. Please find attached a geological report for a coal asset as discussed with Tony,” Koloane is reported to have said.

For his efforts in helping the Guptas land at Waterkloof, the publication alleges Koloane attended the wedding and stayed for three nights at Sun City Resort.

Relying on “a spreadsheet containing the names of about 260 guests … which appears to reflect invitees who had RSVPed by April 22, ‘Vusi B Koloane’ was marked as attending”.

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