The South African State Capture : A true conspiracy

This morning Springer asked me about an e-mail that was sent to the AboveTopSecret.com e-mail address - seeing that I am South African and may know more about it:

Dear Sir / Mam

UNFORTUNATELLY we CANNOT keep quiet about this anymore and now need your INVESTIGATION in to this VERY SERIOUS MATTER.

The PREMIER of the WESTERN CAPE, in SOUTH AFRICA, HELEN ZILLE, who is a member of the official opposition party, the DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE (DA) was accused that she used money from the WESTERN CAPE GOVERNMENT, only province in SA govern by the DA and which the SA media does not want to inform ALL South Africans about.

This serious matter ONLY reached ONE news institution in SOUTH AFRICA and that was channel ANN7 (Channel 405 on DStv). This premier is ALSO under investigation for making RACIST REMARKS on social media by her OWN party. Ther last words we take note of was yesterday, in the AFRIKAANS SUNDAY NEWSAPER, RAPPORT, which report that the DA wants "SETTLE" to regarding this matter. RAPPORT is also very much PRO DA / ZILLE!

Marius Ferreira
Mossel Bay
South Africa

I was quite surprised by the content of the e-mail as it is part of a very complicated matter. The State Capture of my country by an Indian family family called the Guptas and racial divide endorsed by a British PR company. I've been threatening to write a thread about it on ATS for quite some time, because it is a true conspiracy and everything but a theory, and seeing that it is such a complex matter I kept putting it off. Until now. The whole thread of lies, corruption and conspiracy is still busy unraveling so we don't have all the facts yet. There may be much more to come. I did my best to unravel and organize everything we do know and I know it's a lot to read, but if you do decide to read it all - it's quite intriguing.

The role players:

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is the biggest opposition party against the ANC - the ruling party.

Helen Zille

Zille was the leader of the DA from 2007 to 2015 and is now simply the Premier of the Western Cape province. Historically she did a lot for the country and also managed to increase support for the DA by 5% of votes. As an example of her character:

Zille was heavily involved in the Black Sash movement during the 1980s. She served on the regional and national executives of the organisation, and was also vice-chair of the End Conscription Campaign in the Western Cape. During this time, she was arrested for being in a "group area" without a permit, and received a suspended prison sentence. Zille and her husband later offered their home as a safe house for political activists during the 1986 State of Emergency, and she was temporarily forced into hiding with their two-year-old son.

In March 2017 Zille tweeted:
Would we have had a transition into specialised health care and medication without colononial influence? Just be honest please.
and
For those claiming legacy of colonialism was ONLY negative, think of our independent judiciary, transport infrastructure, piped water, etc.

Twitter's face melted and Zille was accused of being an insensitive racist. She was then suspended and following a disciplinary hearing she was removed from her positions on all decision-making structures of the party, which included her position on the federal executive, federal council and provincial council.

Keep in the back of your minds that another opposition party's leader (EFF), Julius Malema last year said:
"if White People did not peacefully surrender their land he could not ‘guarantee’ what was would happen to them. "
And on another occasion:
“The white man has been too comfortable for too long. We are here unashamedly to disturb the white man's peace, because we have not known peace. We don't know what peace looks like. They have been swimming in a pool of privilege. They have been enjoying themselves because they always owned our land... We are not calling for the slaughtering of white people, at least for now...White minorities be warned. We will take our land. It doesn't matter how. It's coming, unavoidable. The land will be taken by whatever means necessary. ”

He is however still a free man and very much the leader of the EFF. There were zero repercussions after what he said.

The president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, is known to have song the traditional song "Kill the Boer (farmer/white people)". The only repercussion was that he was told not to do it again.

The Gupta family aka the Gupta brothers:

In 1993 the Gupta family arrived in South Africa from India. The role players are Ajay, Atul, Rajesh "Tony" Gupta as well as Atul Gupta's nephew Varun Gupta. The Gupta family owns a business empire spanning computer equipment, media and mining. In 2016 Atul Gupta became the 7th wealthiest person in South Africa with an estimated net worth of R10.7 billion (US$773.47 million), based on JSE-listed holdings.

Their business interests include Sahara Computers and Sahara Systems, mining companies include Oakbay, the Shiva Uranium Mine, Tegeta, Westdawn Investments and Black Edge Exploration. Media interests include TNA Media mother company of The New Age newspaper ANN7 (African News Network) a 24-hour news channel as well as Vusizwe Media.VR Laser Services steel fabrication for mining, engineering and armoured vehicle applications, Islandsite Investment 180, Confident Concepts and have links to the passenger airline Jet Airways. Other stakes include Afripalm Technology (12.1%), Dunrose Investments 180 (12.1%), Pyramid Trading Eleven (2.8%) and Comair (JSE-listed owner of kulula.com - 5%) all through Oakbay.

They have been known to employ at least 3 of President Zuma's family members:
• Bongi Ngema-Zuma, one of the president's wives, used to work for the Gupta-controlled JIC Mining Services as a communications officer.
• Duduzile Zuma, his daughter, as director at Sahara Computers. She was appointed six months after her father was elected as ANC president.
• Duduzane Zuma, a son, a director and shareholder of several Gupta-owned companies.

They first met President Zuma in 2002 when he was a guest in one of Sahara's (they computer hardware company) annual functions.

They own an estate in Johannesburg's affluent Saxonwold suburb comprising of at least four mansions. The estate is now valued at about R52 million ($3.4millon).

The Gupta Brothers:


The Gupta Network:


[Continued]

A short summation of the Gupta/Zuma state capture time line:

1994: The Guptas establish Sahara Computers which would turn into one of the biggest PC hardware suppliers in SA. In 2002 Jacob Zuma (now president) met the Guptas for the first time while Ajay Gupta served on the International Marketing Council.
2005: Sahara Computers (under Gupta management) sign a memorandum of understanding with the Samajwadi Party government headed by Mulayam Singh to set up an electronics unit in Greater Noida, India. With an investment of Rs.250 crore, the deal signals the Gupta family’s desire to invest in their home state and marked the Government’s preference for public-private partnership.
2007: President Thabo Mbeki is ousted as president of the ANC after his attempt to secure a third term as ANC president fails. He is replaced by Zuma.
2009: In the run-up to the elections, the Guptas provide Zuma with airplanes and helicopters to take him to various locations throughout South Africa.
April 2009: The acting head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mokotedi Mpshe, announces that the corruption prosecution of President Jacob Zuma will be discontinued. (There were 783 charges of corruption against Zuma at the time.)
May 9 2009: Zuma is inaugurated as president of South Africa.
December 2009: Only six months in office, it emerges that Zuma’s Nkandla compound is getting a R65-million upgrade at taxpayers’ expense.
14 April 2010: Atul Gupta and Duduzane Zuma take over as directors of the Dominion holding company. (Duduzane Zuma is President Jacob Zuma's son.)
14 May 2010: Toronto-listed Uranium One says it has sold its South African subsidiary, of which the main asset is the Dominion mine in Klerksdorp, for $37-million (about R280-million) in April.
August 2010: The Guptas acquire part of Arcelor-Mittals’s R9bn empowerment deal, raising questions about who is eligible for state empowerment programmes. The Guptas and Duduzane Zuma scored a R9-billion deal - ahead of a consortium led by ANC chair Baleka Mbete - that gives them a stake in global steel giant ArcelorMittal worth more than R3-billion.
12 September 2010: Atul Gupta, travelling in his black BMW, is stopped by police on the R55 motor-way at about 9pm on a Saturday night. Police search his driver/bodyguard, but he refuses to be frisked when they want to search him. Sowetan reports that he boasted that he was well-connected, and that he knew police commissioner Bheki Cele. He is taken to the Sandton police station where he is charged.
27 September 2010: The Guptas launch their newspaper, The New Age. At the ANC’s national general council, Pallo Jordan holds up a copy of The New Age specially delivered to the conference.
2011: The M&G reveals that one of Zuma’s then-fiancées, Gloria Bongi Ngema, landed a well-paying job with the Gupta family. And the president’s controversial friends may have facilitated his bride-to-be’s purchase of a R5.2-million home in the upmarket Pretoria suburb of Waterkloof.
March 2011: After reports that ANC ministers and political figures often visit the Gupta family's private residence, brothers Ajay and Atul Gupta state that they are losing millions of Rand due to the “constant negative publicity” surrounding their friendship with President Jacob Zuma and his family. They say when government ministers visit their luxury compound in Saxonwold, northern Johannesburg, they do so as friends and not in their official capacity.
In the same month the Guptas’ Oakbay Investments buys 33% of Zim’s Afripalm holdings. Afripalm owns 35% of Unipalm. Unipalm owns 33% of a trust, that is Growthpoint’s BEE partner, and Growthpoint has a 14% BEE equity component.
April 2013: A private plane taking guests to a Gupta family wedding at Sun City lands at Waterkloof Air Force Base outside Pretoria. It later emerges that the chief of state protocol, Bruce Koloane, facilitated the landing on the instruction of Jacob Zuma. (Keep the Gupta wedding at the back of your mind. We'll be coming back to it.)
September 2015: Eskom coal scientists Mark van der Riet and Charlotte Ramavhona are suspended after conflicting lab results raised concerns about the quality of coal Eskom received from Tegeta Exploration and Resources, the Gupta-controlled owner of Brakfontein. The Gupta owned Tegeta, benefited from official connections in the awarding of a R4 billion contract to supply coal to the state electrical utility company Eskom.
27 November 2015: According to a Sunday Times report published in March 2016 a meeting between Mcebisi Jonas (then Finance Minister) and the Guptas took place in Sandton. Jonas claims that during the meeting Ajay Gupta offered him the position of finance minister and R600 million (about $45 million).
December 2015: Zuma announces the axing of Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene and appoints the little-known Des van Rooyen. A former mayor on Johannesburg’s West Rand, Van Rooyen arrives at the National Treasury with two advisers linked to the Guptas, Mohamed Bobat and Ian Whitley. Van Rooyen stays in the job for just four days as Zuma’s announcement sends the rand into a nosedive, sparking outrage. Zuma moves Van Rooyen to a different portfolio and reappoints Pravin Gordhan, a former finance minister.
2016: Finance minister Pravin Gordhan faces trumped-up criminal charges. The case plunges the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Hawks and the South African Revenue Service into a deep crisis amid allegations that these state institutions are being used to aid the Gupta family’s supposed quest to have a pliable finance minister installed. (Continued below.)
January 2016: Denel (a state-owned aerospace and defence technology conglomerate) announces a joint venture with VR Laser Services - a company in which the Gupta family and President Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane Zuma hold a 25 percent stake. The joint venture, known as Denel Asia, is set to sell Denel products to the Asian market.
March 2016: Police minister Nathi Nhleko calls a media briefing in Parliament and, along with State Security Minister David Mahlobo, announced that the Hawks are investigating Gordhan’s role in a “rogue spy unit”.
March 2016: Zuma is under increasing pressure as a national fight-back campaign against state capture begins. The public protector launches her investigation into Zuma’s alleged unethical conduct and that of other state functionaries. The probe relates to claims that the Gupta family and Zuma’s son, Duduzane, are involved in removing and appointing ministers and directors of state-owned companies, resulting in Gupta-linked companies allegedly benefiting improperly and, possibly, corruptly from state deals.
March 2016: Jacob Zuma is informed that he would need to give evidence in outgoing Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s investigation into state capture.
15 March 2016: ANC MP Vytjie Mentor reveals that the Guptas offered her the job of Minister of Public Enterprises in 2010 but only if she would stop SAA flights to India and give the Guptas the contract for SA-India flights. She said Zuma was in another room of the house when the offer was made.

[Continued]

20 March 2016: The Sunday Times reports that Themba Maseko, former CEO of the Government Communications and Information System, said Zuma personally called him late in 2010 to tell him to meet the Gupta brothers at their Saxonwold compound in Johannesburg. He met with two Gupta brothers and was ordered to put government advertising in the Guptas’ newspaper, The New Age. "[Atul Gupta said]: 'Don't worry ... tell us where the money is and tell departments to give you money and if they refuse we will deal with them. If you have a problem with any department, we will summon ministers here.’”
20 March 2016: The African National Congress’s decision-making National Executive Committee holds a meeting to discuss allegations against the Guptas. Zuma dares the ANC to fire him, and is supported by the majority of the NEC. The party decides that people approached by the Guptas make submissions to the secretary general, Gwede Mantashe. A group of so-called former commanders of Umkhonto we Sizwe send a signed memorandum to this meeting, calling for the recall of the party president because of alleged.
31 March 2016: The Constitutional Court hands down a judgment ordering Zuma to pay back some of the taxpayers’ money spent on so-called security upgrades at his Nkandla home. In the unanimous and scathing judgment, the court finds that Zuma’s failure to comply with the remedial action ordered by the public protector was inconsistent with the Constitution.
1 April 2016: Zuma addresses the nation but does not apologise for his errors, but he apologises for “accidentally deceiving” the country. “The matter has caused a lot of frustration and confusion, for which I apologise, on my behalf and on behalf of government.”
8 April 2016: The four biggest South African banks close the bank accounts of the Gupta company Oakbay. Absa and FNB banks and auditors‚ KPMG‚ and Sasfin all terminate their relationships with the Guptas. KPMG announced it would no longer audit the company’s books, and Sasfin, the family’s stock exchange sponsor, abandoned them. Atul and Varun Gupta resign their directorships of Oakbay, and Duduzane Zuma, the president’s son, resigns from his non-executive chairmanship of Shiva Uranium, an Oakbay subsidiary. (Keep in the back of your mind that KPMG is involved.)
10 April 2016: The Sunday Times publishes an article saying that Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister David van Rooyen travelled to Dubai on December 20 2015, less than two weeks after his ill-fated appointment as finance minister, a post he held for four days. It also revealed that Mesebenzi Zwane and Zuma also visited Dubai, where the Guptas were at the time. The Guptas are reported to have left SA for Dubai
14 April 2016: The controversial Gupta-linked deal by state-owned arms manufacturer Denel is close to collapse because due processes were not followed, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Wednesday, thus making the transaction illegal. (Remember the deal between Denel and VR Laser Services in which the Gupta family and President Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane Zuma hold a 25 percent stake...)
15 April 2016: The Gupta family’s acquisition of the Optimum coal mine from Glencore is concluded.
22 April 2016: The Cabinet instructs three ministers to engage with the country’s four major banks over the closing of the Guptas’ bank accounts.
25 April 2016: The governor of the South African Reserve Bank‚ Lesetja Kganyago‚ has been asked to investigate whether banks‚ who had business relationships with the Guptas‚ complied with all the relevant provisions of the Financial Intelligence Act.
May 2016: Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan says state-owned South African Airways (SAA) will not receive further loan guarantees from the Treasury until a new board and management are in place. (SAA has been struggling financially since the ANC took over and have received many government bail-outs aka tax payer's money. Just earlier this week - 1 July 2017 - SAA was granted yet another bailout: $2.3 billion/$171 million.)
15 May 2016: The Hawks want Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan to be prosecuted for "espionage" in a case related to the activities of the South African Revenue Service "rogue unit" established while he was the tax agency's commissioner. FIVE months after his appointment, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and President Jacob Zuma are in a covert battle. It later emerged that the Guptas had known about the imminent arrest a week before reports.
27 May 2016: Zuma denies he is at war with Finance Minister Gordhan.
3 June 2016: The ANC closes its investigation into claims of state capture, stating that they have found nothing worth investigating.
10 June 2016: The Guptas are among a group attempting to lobby President Jacob Zuma to reject proposed amendments to the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, a new law that will give banks the right to scrutinise the wealth of the politically connected.
12 June 2016: The Reserve Bank has demands that an Indian bank release documents related to bank accounts owned by the Gupta family. The request is part of an investigation into allegations that the Guptas may have been illegally channelling money out of the country.
14 June 2016: The upfront price for coal that Eskom has paid Gupta-owned Tegeta Resources to supply Arnot power station is higher than the export parity price at Richards Bay - among the best local prices for coal. Eskom admits that it had prepaid Tegeta to supply Arnot until September, in so doing, effectively giving Optimum a lifeline. Optimum is locked in a loss-making contract to supply Hendrina power station until 2018.
19 June 2016: The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) - state owned enterprise - boss Lucky Montana sets out accusations that the Gupta family and Duduzane Zuma schemed to capture the parastatal and grab a R51-billion ($3.8 billion) tender for a bidder they represented.
25 August 2016: Tegeta Exploration and Resources, the mining operation owned by the Gupta family, threatens to interdict the Treasury should it release a report into its investigation of Eskom’s coal contracts. The Treasury’s chief procurement officer Kenneth Brown conducted an investigation into Eskom’s coal contracts in the first few months of 2016, the findings of which have never been made public.
26 August 2016: The Presidency issues a statement saying that Zuma did not have the powers to stop the investigation of Pravin Gordhan and former South African Revenue Service (SARS) officials Ivan Pillay and Johann van Loggerenberg. Gordhan still faces charges over allegations that he set up an illicit investigative unit during his time as head of SARS. While Zuma expressed "full confidence" in the minister, he said he is powerless to stop the probe.
27 August 2016: The Gupta family says they plan to dispose of all the stakes it holds in South African businesses before the end of the year.
2 September 2016: The Cabinet ask President Jacob Zuma to establish a judicial inquiry into the banks and their actions against the Guptas‚ as well as to review the legislation that governs the banking system.

[Continued]

13 September 2016: The ANC’s head of economic policy, Enoch Godongwana says the Hawks pursuit of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan is politically motivated. Godongwana believes the investigation into Gordhan is an attempt to remove him from office and weaken the National Treasury.
11 October 2016: Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and two other former tax officials are charged on counts relating to the approval of an early retirement plan for former deputy commissioner of South African Revenue Service Ivan Pillay.
14 October 2016: Cellphone evidence puts Des van Rooyen in the home of the Guptas on the night before former finance minister Nhlanla Nene was sacked and he was given the job according to a report.
15 October 2016: Finance minister Pravin Gordhan reveals how R6.8-billion in “suspicious and unusual transactions” may have contributed to the decision by South Africa’s major banks to close accounts associated with the Gupta family.
15 October 2016: President Jacob Zuma has brought a court action against the former public protector Thuli Madonsela to prevent her publishing a report into state capture days before her departure.
23 October 2016: It is revealed that chief prosecutor Shaun Abrahams met President Jacob Zuma and three cabinet ministers behind closed doors at the ANC's headquarters a day before announcing his decision to charge Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan with fraud. (Remember how Zuma said he has no power to stop the investigation? Turns out he instigated the investigation.)
23 October 2016: A whistleblower's reveals that Gupta owned company Trillian's CEO Eric Wood briefed some of the company's top executives about Nene's axing during a meeting at its Melrose Arch offices in October 2015 - 2 months before the then Finance Minister Nene was actually fired and replaced by Zuma's choice Van Rooyen - who has links to the Gupta family.
27 October 2016: President Jacob Zuma wants to postpone the court hearing on the former public protector’s state capture report‚ saying he needs time to respond to the late application to intervene by former African National Congress MP Vytjie Mentor.
2 November 2016: President Jacob Zuma withdraws his application to interdict the release of the public protector’s state capture report.

2 November 2016: A very vague Public Protector report on the investigation into state capture is released. The report recommends that
.... 1. Zuma must appoint a commission of inquiry.
.... 2. Jonas's claims about Gupta Treasury job were backed up by phone records.
.... 3. Optimum mine purchase 'highly suspicious'.
.... 4. Eskom Brian Molefe was in constant contact with Ajay Gupta
.... 5. SABC (state owned public broadcaster) was linked to Guptas newspaper and morning breakfast shows.
.... 6. Fana Hlongwane was the facilitator in Jonas debacle.
.... 7. Van Rooyen visited the Guptas every night for a week before he was appointed.
.... 8. Zuma may have to repay more money for Nkandla upgrades.

3 November 2016: All charges against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan are dropped.
6 November 2016: A logbook and notes by Atul Gupta's driver, John Maseko, reveal how President Jacob Zuma and at least two of his senior cabinet ministers - Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba and Water Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane - Eskom CEO Brian Molefe; Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesman, Ronnie Mamoepa; AU Commission chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma; and former government spin doctor Mzwanele Jimmy Manyi visited the Guptas' residence.
16 November 2016: Mark Pamensky, the Eskom director most directly linked to the Gupta family resigns from the board.
13 December 2016: Nedbank (one of the banks that refused to do further business with the Gupta family) - CE Mike Brown reveals that Communications Minister Faith Muthambi was part of the interministerial committee delegation he met with to discuss the closure of Gupta bank accounts.
16 January 2017: Former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela says she is afrod that the country is being run by the Guptas. Madonsela also says she noticed how the use of the phrase “white minority capital” had started to flourish in the wake of her report and said she had read how governments in Africa “whip up ethnicity as an issue”. But‚ she added‚ “the answer to white minority capital is not having two families enriching themselves through state resources”.
17 January 2017: Vardospan, a joint venture between Cinq Holdings, a company controlled by Salim Essa, a close business associate of the Gupta family and Hamza Farooqui’s Pearl Capital, is proposing to acquire Luxembourg-based Pitcairns Finance’s interest in Habib Overseas Bank’s domestic operations. But the deal has to be passed by the finance minister to go through.
20 January 2017: The eThekwini region’s ANC Youth League says President Jacob Zuma must fire Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan for failing to transform the struggling state-owned South African Airways (SAA).
25 January 2017: Hawks (special investigation unit) head Berning Ntlemeza informs the Gupta family that they are not under investigation — even though the Hawks had received reports of 72 suspicious transactions through their businesses’ bank accounts from the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) in the past four years.
31 January 2017: Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan accuses the Gupta family and their associates of plotting against him and the Treasury.
3 February 2017: The Bank of China closes the Gupta accounts just three weeks after they were opened because of perceived political risk.
19 February 2017: A report says that six days after the Gupta family infamously “fled” South Africa in 2016 on a late-night flight, a second Gupta plane tried to leave with a box believed to have been full of diamonds.
27 March 2017: Zuma sends Pravin Gordhan in London an sms late in the night to say he and his team, including Mcebisi Jonas, should return without completing an investor roadshow that was also headed for the US the next day.
30 March 2017: During the late hours of the day Zuma announces a cabinet reshuffle and in the process fires Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and Deputy Minister Mcebisi Jonas. Malusi Gigaba with direct links to the Gupta family replaces Gordhan. Zuma says the reason he removed Gordhan is because he have concerns over Gordhan’s close relationship with “white monopoly capital”. Zuma also presented an intelligence report which accused Gordhan and Jonas of using the international roadshow to overthrow the State. It is later denied that the report even existed.

[Continued]

The Gupta e-mail leaks

Since May 2017 newspapers have been reporting on leaked e-mails from the Gupta family by whistle-blowers. There is said to be up 100,000 e-mails exposing the Gupta/Zuma state capture. So far only around 650 e-mails have been covered publicly. The e-mails reveal how the Gupta family influenced political and state figures and also that the Guptas are very shady characters. According to the Daily Maverick: “We have now brought that forward and placed the full #GuptaLeaks in the care of an offshore organisation which will load it to a secure platform, from where it will soon be accessible to many bona fide journalists, including the Sunday Times and City Press… This information is both too dangerous and too important not to share.”

Some of the information revealed:
The Guptas:
1. The Guptas were sent Mosebenzi Zwane's CV a month before he was appointed minister of mineral resources.
2. The Guptas intervened to have the powers of the then communications minister, Faith Muthambi, strengthened and were forwarded a presidential proclamation detailing her powers by Muthambi herself before it was signed by Zuma.
3. The Guptas received confidential information on cabinet meetings from Muthambi.
4. The Guptas paid for Des van Rooyen's trip to Dubai after his appointment to the cabinet in December 2015.
5. The Guptas arranged for Denel director Dan Mantsha to be chauffeured around Dubai.
6. The Guptas paid for a deluxe suite for Matshela Koko - subsequently appointed acting CEO of Eskom - at the luxurious Oberoi Hotel in Dubai.
7. The Guptas were asked by an SAA board member to get him onto the board of Transnet.
8. The Guptas had staff coach Zwane on how to handle media conferences, including questions about his relationship with the Guptas. He flew on a Gupta jet to Dubai and they picked up the tab for his accommodation.
9. Jacob Zuma bought a second home in Dubai and his son Duduzane had or have an apartment there.
10. The Gupta family members are racist. They insisted on ONLY white staff members during the controversial wedding, have called black guards "monkeys" and refused to let a black person rent one of their properties.
11. The Gupta family and Zuma family members hired London based PR company Bell Pottinger to do PR damage control. (See below.)
12. The controversial 2013 Gupta wedding was paid for with taxpayer money. The money was intended for a Free State province dairy project. The money was however laundered to Dubai to shell companies by the internation Auditing company KPMG, from where it was directed back to pay for the luxurious wedding.

The Wedding Money Trail:



How to launder money:


[Continued]

Bell Pottinger

IN 2016 the Gupta family owned Oakbay Investments and President Zuma’s son Duduzane hired the London based PR company to do damage control after repeated revelations of corruption and state capture was reported by the media causing great financial implications for the Gupta family. In March 2017 it came to light that Bell Pottinger was behind a social media strategy, using fake bloggers, commentators and Twitter users, in an attempt to influence public opinion, as well as targeting media and personalities that were opposed to the Gupta family. The aim of the campaign was to portray the Gupta family as victims of a conspiracy involving "white monopoly capital" to deflect accusations and evidence of their client's involvement in corruption and state capture, and to suggest that ‘white monopoly capital’ is actively blocking transformation in South Africa. The phrase ‘white monopoly capital’ has since been used many times by South African politicians. It is not known who or what the phrase actually refers to and its existence is disputed. Bell Pottinger’s strategy was to create a racial divide in South Africa where racial tension was already very delicate. The Gupta family paid Pottinger around £100,000 per month for their services. Pottinger's involvement with the Gupta Family was further highlighted in June 2017 when South African newspapers The Citizen and Sunday Times published several emails, allegedly between South African President Jacob Zuma's son, Duduzane Zuma (and a close Gupta comrade) and Bell Pottinger, pointing to a ‘dirty’ public relations smear battle. Pottinger has since dropped the Guptas as client. The Democratic Alliance complained about Bell Pottinger's actions to two UK PR bodies, the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations in early 2017.

This is not the first time Bell Pottinger was involved in creating propaganda. It was revealed on October 2, 2016 that the Pentagon paid the British PR firm $540 million to create fake terrorist videos, fake news articles for Arab news channels and propaganda videos.

An investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism revealed the details of the multimillion-pound operation. Bell Pottinger is understood to have been funded some $540 million from the US Department of Defence (DoD) for five contracts from May 2007 to December 2011, according to The Times and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. Lord Bell confirmed Bell Pottinger reported to the Pentagon, the CIA and the U.S. National Security Council on its work in Iraq.

In order to “clean up” the Gupta’s name the PR company had several strategies. The first step was to clean up the “Gupta Family” entry on Wikipedia. The process took several weeks as not to attract any suspicion. Then user Aurrel Phumelo joined the Disqus comment network and started making contributions on a few of the news and business news websites that use the system to carry user contributions beneath articles countering comments that criticized the Gupta family and interests. The effort branched out to many different platforms and hundreds (if not more) of sock puppets, but their favourite platform was Twitter where they launched a full on racial attack. The created sock accounts of supposedly black users that started Tweeting about “White Monopoly Capital”, how Apartheid was still in effect, how white people still controlled the media, how racist white people were – and then they would create “white” puppets that Tweeted racist slurs, which would then be used by the “black puppets” as evidence of racism. It is also suggested that the “revolutionary social group – Black First Land First” is the result of the Bell Pottinger campaign, but the jury is still out on that one. The racial campaign was unfortunately very successful. Racial tensions rose as the campaign sparked discussions and hate between black and white. People were distracted – and personal attacks seemed more important and personal than state capture and a “distant” Indian family. We are however at a turning point as people realise they have been played and baited.



Here is a detailed report on the whole Bell Pottinger campaign for the Guptas and Duduzane Zuma:
PR Support Document

By 7 July 2017 Bell Pottinger released an apology to the South African people claiming that they were “mislead” by the clients, and have supposedly fired all staff members involved with the campaign. South Africans are not amused even though Bell Pottinger promised to release all its documentation about dealings with Oakbay investments (the Guptas). South Africans are angry and they want to see heads roll.

And that is the story of how South Africa was captured by a family from India. There are daily developments and we are witnessing a revolution. The tides are slowly by steadily changing. The fear is however that the power of the Guptas are too immense, because even with all the above information, the Guptas are still free men and Jacob Zuma is still president. The Public Protector known to be a Zuma lackey, so we expect no action from her. The National Prosecuting Authority has not made a single peep about this. The South African Police shows no interest in investigating anything. The Hawks – special investigation unit – apparently is busy with some sort of investigation. But earlier this week the computers with the investigations into state capture were stolen, and it turns out the break-in was an inside job. It looks like there is no one left to take the country back. Except for the people of South Africa themselves. And I must say I have nothing but admiration for the investigative journalists that have exposed all the corruption and scandals. Who knows where we would’ve been was it not for them!

[Continued]

So to come back to the initial e-mail that was sent to ATS talking about Helen Zille. Here are my thoughts:
1. Yes, Helen Zille was under investigation for supposed racism. The investigation has been completed and sadly Helen Zillen was punished – even though in my opinion it was not racist. Not even close. You can decide for yourself.
2. The fact that the supposed “stolen money” was only covered by ANN7 says a lot. Seeing that ANN7 is the Gupta owned news station…
3. Helen Zille does not live a lavish life. Anyone can compare her lifestyle with the lifestyles of ANC members. If she is stealing any money, then she is not stealing much compared to all the other corrupt ministers and politicians – including President Zuma. Should we just stop here for a moment and ask how President Zuma can afford a mansion in Dubai worth R 331 million ($25 million) on a salary of R2.9 million ($188 000) a year?
4. Knowing Bell Pottinger’s strategy, we have seen a sustained attempt to continue the distraction. This is yet another such an attempt, and a very poor one at that. Other include the “wmcleaks” (White monopoly capital leaks) website and campaigns which has been traced to Gupta employees working from India.
5. Scandals sell newspaper. There are many independent newspapers that would jump at the opportunity to expose a scandal surrounding Helen Zille. Even if it was just “if’s” and “maybe’s” one of the other newspapers would pick it up… The fact that none does says a lot.
6. You want an investigation? Here it is. Hope it was worth the read.

Thank you for reading.



Sources:

www.dailymaverick.co.za...
www.biznews.com...
www.sowetanlive.co.za...
www.sahistory.org.za...
www.businesslive.co.za...
mg.co.za...
en.wikipedia.org...
www.iol.co.za...
en.wikipedia.org...
en.wikipedia.org...
www.timeslive.co.za...
www.timeslive.co.za...
mg.co.za...
mg.co.za...
ht.ly...
www.enca.com...
en.wikipedia.org...
ewn.co.za...
www.thesouthafrican.com...
www.ft.com...
citizen.co.za...
mg.co.za...

-- THE END --

a reply to: Gemwolf

Great post Gemwolf! At least it feels the tide has stopped a little bit, if not turned, with the Gupta email leaks and now the Bell Pottinger apology. It seems for once, just for a short while, the good guys are winning.

Next, groups like Black First Land First need to be slapped down - did you see their cries of One Settler One Bullet today? And THEY are also funded by the Guptas. Will they be prosecuted for Hate Speech? I am not holding my breath - they serve too many agendas.

Brilliant thread Gemwolf! I also cannot understand why Zille was punished for stating a fact while unadulterated hatred towards the white ethnicity and threats of land theft goes on,from the likes of Malema and Zuma.Holy Cthulhu the extent of the corruption is vomit inducing Thank you for this thread

a reply to: deltaalphanovember

Thank you!

Yes, the tides are turning. A bit slow to my taste, but at least it's getting aired. I still need to catch up on today's events though... Sounds, uhm, interesting...?

Well I understand more about the situation there now. Thanks, Gemwolf. What a massive job to tackle and explain such a complex subject and series of events.

Here's hoping that truth outs on the corruption and those brewing bloodshed are routed. We could use some of your journalists here in the States.

My brain hurts!

So in other words not all that different from American politics? It is strange to see a single family from another country control so much. Than again Soros comes to mind.

Great post, thanks for sharing the info. Interesting to see Bell Potinger and Schillings are involved in yet another corruption scandal.

a reply to: Gemwolf

Wow. That's a mouthful!

Had a few pings on my radar reading your posts. Gonna dig in on a few things later this evening and in to the weekend and will post what I find.

This is ATS!

a reply to: jadedANDcynical

Thanks for reading and looking forward to see what you have!
I made a couple of notes on side issues I want to check up on as well. Maybe I'll add it here as well.

a reply to: Raxoxane
a reply to: The GUT
a reply to: Rosinitiate
a reply to: bastion

Thanks for taking the time to read it all. I appreciate it!

a reply to: jadedANDcynical

Thanks for reading and looking forward to see what you have!
I made a couple of notes on side issues I want to check up on as well. Maybe I'll add it here as well.

a reply to: Gemwolf

The first thing that jumped out at me on this graphic:



was Eskom, so I went looking based on that. There are several entries that include them over at the leaky place. I found this one to be of interest:

http://
www.energyglobal.com/ World_Bank_approve_US$_3.75_billion_loan_for_South_African_coal-fired_power_plant
media/articles/thumb/ The World Bank has approved a US$ 3.75 billion loan to Eskom, which will be used to complete the 4800 MW Medupi coal-fired power plant in South Africa. The loan will ease the country?s power shortages and help it to achieve a reliable energy supply.
SA-coal- Read_more

https://__._/syria-files/docs/553610_world-coal-april-2010-e-newsletter-pt-2-.html

They're also referenced in the attachment to an email in the Podesta emails.

From the email:

Dear Hannah, attached for the President is a new report by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) about energy poverty and ways in which businesses, governments, and NGOs can help expand access to energy. Depending on the answers to several major questions - funding, deliverables, timeline, partners, etc - and speaking very broadly, the issue of energy poverty is one on which WJC probably could play an even larger role, reinforcing his dual / long-standing work on energy / climate issues and poverty issues, and equally importantly, applying his unparalleled global stature to expand work on an issue that impacts billions of lives in fundamental ways but often unfortunately gets far less attention / investment from senior-level folks than other things like climate policy negotiations.

From the attachment:

Jointly with Eskom, Vattenfall and others, the WBCSD is a founding
member of the Energy Access Partnership (EAP), a not-for-profit
company to accelerate energy access in rural Africa, based in
Johannesburg.

https://__._/podesta-emails/emailid/28556

Looks like former president Clinton was shilling for them or being courted to do so.

That's a quick first pass and a couple of tidbits. Will be back later with more.

Just when I thought ATS was drowning in the political mud pit you drop a bombshell OP.

Man it's good to see the old ATS!

I just finished reading "What's Going on in South Africa" a little earlier today, so my eyes are about to fall out, but S, F, and subscribe. It's the weekend! I'll have time to read it. The other thread really got my attention, so this comes at a good time.