CAPE TOWN, June 2 (Xinhua) -- The ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Friday called on the government to establish veracity of the so-called "Gupta emails" involving President Jacob Zuma.
The ANC "has noted with grave concern reports of allegations contained in a series of emails leaked to the media dubbed Gupta emails", the party said in a statement emailed to Xinhua.
The "Gupta emails", published last week by the Sunday Times and other South African news outlets, have further exposed the relationship between Zuma and the controversial Indian Gupta family, and the extent of the family's alleged power over South Africa.
According to the emails, the Gupta family was awarded lucrative contracts with South African state-owned enterprises (SOEs) through its close ties with Zuma and senior government officials, including a 570-million-rand (about 44-million-US-dollar) dairy project in Vrede, the Free State Province.
"These reports contain very worrying claims about the nature of the relationship between government and private interests," the ANC said.
The ANC views these allegations in a very serious light as if left unattended, the party said.
These allegations call into question the integrity and credibility of the government and the use of state resources under the direction of or to the benefit of private interests, ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said.
Such matters cannot be allowed to fester in the public domain, said Kodwa.
Accordingly, the ANC calls on government to urgently seek to establish the veracity of these claims and explanation from those implicated, he said.
The ANC further reiterates the recent resolution of its National Executive Committee calling for the establishment of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into allegations of "state capture" without delay, Kodwa said.
The "Gupta emails" have fueled public outcry over the alleged influence by the Guptas over Zuma in the appointment of cabinet ministers and CEOs of SOEs in what is known as "state capture".
Both Zuma and the Guptas have denied the allegations.
