Ajay Gupta wanted the Government Communication Information System (GCIS) to transfer R600m to the Guptas as capital to start their media company, says the state entity’s former CE. During an interview on Wednesday with Radio 702’s Bongani Bingwa, former GCIS CE Themba Maseko described meeting Gupta in December 2010. "So what he was basically telling me was that I must transfer the whole advertising budget to his company so that they can actually have the capital to start running the business‚" Maseko said. "He made it very clear to me that he wasn’t asking me. He was telling me that I need to transfer the budget." The media company the Guptas were setting up was what later became The New Age newspaper and ANN7 (African News Network 7). Maseko said Gupta knew the government advertising budget was R600m. "He said I must make sure that that budget is transferred to his benefit." Maseko said he told Gupta that protocol dictated there must be a bidding process. He added that the budget w...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.