Phiyega investigating Gupta police escort

02 May 2013 - 17:24 By Sapa
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Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega gives testimony at the Marikana Commission of Inquiry on April 3, 2013 in Rustenburg. File photo.
Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega gives testimony at the Marikana Commission of Inquiry on April 3, 2013 in Rustenburg. File photo.
Image: Gallo Images / Sowetan / Tsheko Kabasia

National police commissioner Riah Phiyega has launched an internal investigation into the Gupta wedding saga, Police Minister Nathi Mthetwa announced on Thursday.

"I have further instructed that in the event that such transgressions occurred, that the law must take its course on any person found to be responsible," Mthethwa said in a statement.

"The investigation is underway and I am expecting a preliminary report by the end of today [Thursday]."

The wealthy and politically-connected Gupta family landed wedding guests at the Waterkoof Air Force Base -- a national key point -- on Tuesday morning.

News of the aircraft landing angered political parties and organisations including the ANC, DA, IFP, Cosatu, and the SA Communist Party.

Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane said high-level investigations into the matter were underway.

The inquiries -- by the departments of international relations and defence, and the SA Revenue Service -- would seek to find whether diplomatic privilege had been abused.

Several government departments denied giving clearance for the jet to land at the base.

Chabane said he was not aware of dignitaries aboard the plane and whether a police escort was provided from the base to the wedding venue at Sun City, North West.

The Gupta family, which owns The New Age newspaper and Sahara Computers, is celebrating the wedding of Vega Gupta, 23, to Indian-born Aakash Jahajgarhia.

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