South Africa’s anti-corruption watchdog says it is expecting additional funds to investigate whether President Jacob Zuma allowed the wealthy Gupta family to make government appointments.
A Spokesman for the Public Protector, Oupa Segalwe, said on Thursday the watchdog had a commitment from government to fund it with 1.5 million rand (102,407 dollars) for the job.
“Considering the fact that such an investigation would require forensic skills, which is an expertise we do not have internally, the Public Protector decided to request for extra funding from Treasury,” said Segalwe.
The Public Protector, the country’s anti-corruption watchdog, said it had requested an extra 3 million rand ($205,000) but was granted half of that amount.
The prominent business family is accused of being behind Zuma’s abrupt sacking of former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene in December.
The move rattled investor confidence and triggered calls for the president’s resignation.
The scandal surrounding the Gupta family took a dramatic turn earlier this year after deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas said they had offered him his boss’s job.
Zuma has said that the Guptas are his friends, but denied doing anything improper. The Guptas have also denied making job offers to anyone in government.
Allegations of the undue influence over top echelons of government prompted opposition parties to call for an investigation by the watchdog.
The issue may be piling pressure on Zuma’s African National Congress party ahead of Aug. 3 local elections that are expected to be closely fought.
The accusations also led to four major South African banks cutting links with the Gupta-owned holding company.
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