The sale of assets by the controversial Gupta family in what opposition MPs described as a bid to skip the country does not mean they’ll escape the long arm of the law should allegations of State capture be proven, deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday.

“In relation to the matter you raised that assets are being sold…clearly everything that is happening should not be able to escape the scrutiny of a commission that will be set up,” Ramaphosa said as he was grilled by MPs in the National Assembly.

“I think what is clear is that this matter is not going to be left and swept under the carpet…this is going to be dealt with in one shape or another.”

The deputy president denied any knowledge of the Guptas, who are at the centre of State capture allegations, including alleged influence on Eskom.

“Any knowledge that I have about the alleged influence of a certain family at Eskom has been obtained from published reports on the matter. This includes the Public Protector’s State of capture report, as well as several media articles produced by investigative journalists,” said Ramaphosa.

It emerged this week that the Guptas were selling Tegeta Exploration and Resources to a company in Switzerland for close to R3-billion. Tegeta has a lucrative coal supply contract with Eskom.

They were also disposing of their media organisations – The New Age newspaper and the ANN7 television station for a combined R450-million.

Ramaphosa said he was “sure” President Jacob Zuma would establish a judicial commission of inquiry into State capture soon, pleading with MPs to give the president the time and space to do so.

He denied Zuma and his government was protecting the Indian family.

“Nobody, no family is above the law, so even in this case…whoever is found to have committed any misdemeanour should and will be dealt with, so I want to explode the myth in your mind that some people enjoy the protection of the State and if that was so then we are no longer a State governed by the rule of law.”