Indian wedding scandalises South Africa
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Johannesberg: South Africa’s government announced the suspension of a slew of officials and military personnel on Friday, as it tried to limit the political and diplomatic fallout from a lavish Indian wedding.
A gaggle of top ministers appeared in public to explain how a rich Indian family, with ties to President Jacob Zuma, landed an Airbus A330 laden with wedding guests at a military base without permits.
The passengers were guests of the Gupta family, a major political donor to the ruling ANC and one of the country’s richest families.
The scandal has rocked South Africa and left Zuma facing allegations of cronyism from political foes and public rebukes from his allies.
Attempting to defuse the crisis, minister after minister on Friday insisted “no executive authority” was granted for the plane to land at Waterkloof airforce base outside Pretoria on Tuesday.
Justice minister Jeffrey Radebe — flanked by the ministers of home affairs, foreign affairs, police and defence — announced that five officials and military personnel had been suspended from duty.
He vowed to bring to justice those who “brought the country into disrepute” and said a full investigation will be done within seven days. Two police officers and one reservist have also been arrested in connection with a blue-light escort that took the guests from the airport to the Sun City resort where the wedding took place.
It was claimed that most of the vehicles in the cavalcade were privately hired and illegally fitted with blue lights, although at least one police vehicle was present. But the finger of blame was also pointed at India’s High Commissioner who appeared to have asked for landing rights.
“We have a diplomatic incident at hand,” said foreign minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, vowing to use diplomatic channels to voice its displeasure. The political fallout is likely to deepen.
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