Gigaba re-enters fray with Oppenheimers' Fireblade
Fireblade is seeking to review his decision as home affairs minister to block customs and immigration services at its terminal at OR Tambo
Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba has re-entered a legal battle between the Department of Home Affairs and Oppenheimer aviation company Fireblade over a rejected application for customs and immigration services at its OR Tambo terminal. Fireblade is seeking to review a decision by then home affairs minister Gigaba in November, denying customs and immigration services at its "seven-star" terminal at OR Tambo — a decision the company maintained was taken after pressure was exerted by the Gupta family. Fireblade wants on-site immigration and customs services at its terminal. It blames the Gupta family for several "flip flops" in support from both Denel, which is the lessor, and the department. Fireblade maintains the Guptas initially sought to press the company into including a black empowerment partner. Once this failed, it used its influence on the lessor to press Gigaba to deny the application. At the centre of the dispute is whether the terminal is a port of entry, a status held by po...
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