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The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the decisive step taken by Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber to address the inconsistencies surrounding the 2015 granting of South African citizenship to Kamal Singhala, son of fugitive Ajay Gupta. This decision shines a necessary spotlight on an era of state capture, when Singhala’s citizenship was granted under questionable circumstances by then Home Affairs Minister, Malusi Gigaba.

At the height of state capture, the Gupta family exerted influence at the highest levels of government, manipulating state structures for their own benefit. If there are any remaining vestiges of this dark period, they must be rooted out, and we believe this process is a significant step toward doing just that. Singhala’s second application for citizenship was approved in contravention of the law, and the DA is committed to supporting efforts to ensure that justice prevails and the rule of law is upheld.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has faced setbacks in extraditing the Gupta family, but we remain resolute that no one should escape accountability. The DA believes that if any lingering influences from the era of state capture continue to impact the functioning of our government, they must be swiftly and decisively addressed. We, therefore, support Dr. Schreiber’s commitment to ensuring that the law is enforced without fear or favour.

The DA will continue to monitor developments closely and advocate for further actions to prevent any re-emergence of corruption in South Africa.

Issued by Adrian Roos MP - DA Spokerson on Home Affairs