Guptas deny alleged R51bn train grab

Claims that the Guptas attempted to capture a R51bn Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) tender on behalf of a bidder in 2012 are among many allegations that are “completely unfounded”.

Gary Naidoo‚ the Gupta family’s spokesperson‚ said this on Saturday in a podcast interview with Fin 24.

The Sunday Times reported on Sunday that sensational new allegations of how the Gupta family and President Jacob Zuma's son Duduzane tried to capture a parastatal and profit from a multibillion-rand tender had emerged.

It said the details had surfaced in a letter written by the boss of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa in October 2012.

The letter sets out accusations that the Gupta family and Duduzane schemed to capture the parastatal and grab a R51-billion tender for a bidder they represented.

It states that‚ during "numerous meetings"‚ the Guptas‚ Duduzane and their associates pressured then transport minister Ben Martins and Prasa's then CEO‚ Lucky Montana‚ to favour China South Rail to supply the parastatal with 600 commuter trains‚ the Sunday Times reported.

Naidoo‚ told Fin24 the allegations were “without foundation”.

“There’ve been many allegations which we believe are completely unfounded.

“They are trying to relay that the family or its representatives have been in meetings to try and influence the tender and we strongly deny this‚ we’ve never had any interests in the railways or the rolling stock tender. We’ve never been part of this‚” Naidoo said.

He said the allegations were an example of “media capture”.

“We’ve never been charged of anything. We’ve had many media consider us guilty by innuendo.

“What we find hard to believe is that‚ in most cases where these allegations come out‚ there is mention of unnamed sources and we are saying if there is any evidence of wrong doing‚ bring it out‚ put it out there‚ charge us if you will but you can’t make unfounded statements of unnamed sources because it’s all just an innuendo‚” Naidoo said.

He also described the allegations as “as a politically coordinated campaign against us”.

“We don’t mind anyone investigating. We are ready to answer to any court of law...”

Naidoo said the family has taken strain as a result of media reports that have portrayed them as corrupt.

These mostly affected children in the family‚ who have had to “go through verbal abuse” because of what has been reported in the media‚ Naidoo said.

“It is only when the Gupta family started entering into sectors of industry that were predominantly controlled by monopolies that we see this attack on the family‚” said Naidoo.

Asked whether the relationship between the Gupta family and President Jacob Zuma has become strained‚ Naidoo said the family continues to have a relationship with the president.

“It doesn’t help with media reports tainting the relationship and throwing out wide accusations. I wouldn’t say it’s strained. It’s difficult to engage in terms of the friendship.”