The inquiry tasked with uncovering the truth relating to the Guptas and their familial naturalisation into South Africa has uncovered some bizarre claims.

The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has only just started to peel back the layers of deceit involved in the Guptas naturalisation scheme and has already uncovered some unsavoury tactics.

The infamous Gupta clan really needs no introduction to the South African public but it’s their initial presence in South Africa which has now come under the microscope. Just how did the Gupta’s manage to sink their roots into South African soil?

Guptas target schools

During the first day of hearings, members of parliament were told of the Gupta’s tactics, which involved targeting schools in the North West province, in a contrived and peculiar scheme, relating to the Guptas’ flamboyant Sun City family wedding.

North West education and sports MEC Sello Lehari denied that his department was aware of the scheme, which saw 77 schools contacted by the Guptas as part of a drawing and design competition.

News24 reported that, in April 2013, schools were contacted via email by JIC mining services, West Dawn Investments, the Sundown Ranch Sports Academy and Platinum Group Metals; all of which are associated with the Gupta’s flagship enterprise, Oakbay Investments.

Pupils encouraged to design Gupta greeting cards

According to testimony, which cites emails and follow up investigations, schools were approached to design a “well-wishing card” or a “congratulations” card for the wedding of Vega Gupta and her soon-to-be-husband Aakash Jahajgarhia.

Prizes for the winning pupil and school included hula hoops, netballs, soccer balls and cash rewards. Only 33 schools actually benefited from the competition. Lehari bemoans the fact that they weren’t privy to the Gupta’s nefarious plans sooner, saying:

“We were not aware of the contact with our schools. They tricked our unsuspecting school principals into thinking our learners, and by extension our schools, were participating in a drawing competition. We take this experience as an eye-opener.”

This dubious ‘educational outreach programme’ was aimed at lubricating the mechanisms of naturalization for Angoori Gupta, Kamal Singhala and Surya Singhala.

Ashu Chawla

Ashu Chawla is the man at the centre of the Gupta naturalization row. This according to Committee chairperson Hlomane Chauke, who is adamant Chawla facilitated the procurement of visas and permits with Home Affairs Department officials, for members of the Gupta family.

How did Ashu Chawla – aka the “Gupta post office” – get away with wearing sunglasses in his ID photo? #StateCapture #Guptas @rudieheyneke pic.twitter.com/fF4dUFEZHy — OUTA (@OUTASA) September 12, 2018

As reported by IOL, Chauke said of Chawla:

“We have tried to track him down and we can’t get him. Now that he is a South African, we have to find him by the end of this inquiry. That person becomes very important for Parliament to understand his activities and involvement with officials of the department If we can’t find him, the only way is to issue out a summons and ask the SAPS to go look for him and find him. I’m not saying he is a criminal.”

It seems the Oakbay official and Gupta lieutenant did indeed aid the naturalization process, as described by a submissions letter received by the department and forwarded to the committee, penned by Chawla, which intended to paint the Guptas as good Samaritans involved with various social upliftment schemes, stating:

“Another ongoing project which we are very proud of is our school feeding scheme whereby we support different schools in the suburbs where we operate by providing stationary kits, school uniforms and a takeaway lunch for every pupil at the school! Many of the kids have told us that these meals are the first time they ever had something like KFC!”

The letter also cites an investment of R1 million in sporting equipment for 75 schools.

OUTA slams Ashu Chawla

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse’s (OUTA) described Chawla as the ‘Gupta post office’ for his involvement in their various schemes and communications involving the Department of Home Affairs.

The civil rights organisation’s Rudie Heyneke also made Chawla’s South African identification document available to public view.