South Africa clamour for justice over 'state capture'

South African officials say they believe they are a step closer to bringing the Gupta brothers before the country’s courts to answer allegations of money-laundering and fraud, widely known as “state capture”.

This follows a red notice issued by Interpol on Monday for two of the Gupta brothers - Atul and Rejesh Gupta.

They are accused of being at the heart of widescale corruption involving the state and private sector during Mr Zuma’s nine years in office, using their relationship to gain an unfair business advantage within state companies

The alleged theft has cost taxpayers an estimated $32bn (£24bn).

Mr Zuma and the Guptas deny any wrong-doing, claiming it is a political witch hunt.

The Interpol notice comes ahead of the release of final part of three-volume report into the high-level corruption done by Justice Raymond Zondo.

The Guptas have barely been seen in public seeing they fled South Africa in 2018, amid mounting calls for their arrest. They are widely believed to be in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The final report from the four-year Zondo inquiry is expected to be scathing on the government’s failures to protect South Africa’s state entities from looting.

It is also expected to hit hard against failing power utility Eskom, which is said to have been one of the cash cows of the looters.

South Africans are clamouring for some kind of justice over state capture.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

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