'Down with the Zuptas!' shout staff

On With The Show Fireworks and dancing marked the wedding this week of Vega and Aakash Jahajgarhia - but the fireworks and dancing were not entirely what the couple may have expected

What happened in Sun City won't stay in Sun City. The invasion of the Gupta wedding has come and gone, but the organisers' arrogant treatment of hotel staff has triggered worker fury in the resort.

On Friday, Cosatu's North West provincial secretary Solly Phetoe demanded that the Guptas leave South Africa for good.

Addressing a meeting of workers from the resort, including workers from the Palace of the Lost City and the Cascades Hotel, Phetoe claimed that the family had seized control of the country. He also accused Sun International of selling the workers' integrity to what he termed the "Zuptas".

It is not known whether any bulk discounts were offered to the wedding party, but at normal rates Sun International may have banked as much as R5-million for the 398 rooms taken by the wedding group and the exclusive use of the Valley of the Waves on Wednesday.

The priciest room was bride Vega Gupta's royal suite at the palace, which normally costs R44457 a night. Bridegroom Aakash Jahajgarhia was in the R10344 superior suite.

Phetoe also told workers that a massage therapist had accused a friend of the Guptas of harassment. The incident allegedly happened in the days before the wedding.

"The woman is traumatised and is now seeking counselling. She didn't want to report to the police..." Phetoe said.

Sun International's managing executive, Sir Richard Hawkins, declined to comment on the allegation.

More than 50 irate employees marched through the resort on Friday night, chanting: "Down with the Guptas!"

They stormed the palace hotel and bemused guests took cellphone footage of the protest in the reception area.

Phetoe told hotel management: "We want the Guptas to get out of South Africa. We are starting a campaign for the Guptas never to come back to South Africa again."

Phetoe accused the influential family of exploiting and disrespecting staff.

A palace employee said she had been ejected from her post by the wedding organisers.

"These Guptas arrived with their own staff. They took over the front desk and were the only ones allowed to speak to or serve the wedding guests."

Another worker said the Guptas' legion of 150 chefs - from India, Thailand, China, Lebanon and elsewhere - commandeered the three kitchens at the palace under the whip of celebrity chef Marut Sikka.

A senior supervisor said: "They used gas cylinders, which are not allowed in the kitchen. They were also dressed inappropriately and broke all health and safety regulations. They even brought their own stoves, pots and pans."

Six extravagant parties were held over four days - slightly marred by the glumness of the bride and groom. Vega Gupta wore six designer outfits and, before the ceremony, "knights" wearing black armour and riding black horses led the couple to their destiny. Jahajgarhia was led across a flower-adorned wooden causeway over a cobalt-blue pool to fetch his bride.

The pair walked back across the causeway while troupes of synchronised swimmers frolicked on either side of the pool. At Thursday night's reception, the couple were seated in a gigantic gold oyster shell.

The Guptas also flaunted their wealth by giving their guests lavish gifts that included iPads, tanzanite necklaces and silver-bound copies of the Hindu holy book, the Bhagavad Gita.

Guests at Thursday's wedding reception included President Jacob Zuma's son Duduzane - who arrived with former Miss South Africa Tatum Keshwar - and the president's nephew Khulubuse. The president himself did not attend.

But many of South Africa's political and business elite were only too happy to bask in the glow of the Guptas' largesse.

Other grandees included former Sun International chairman Valli Moosa, Black Management Forum resident Jimmy Manyi and his wife, Stella, socialites Uyanda Mbuli and Tarina Patel and IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who wore a Nehru-style suit.

Businessman Vivian Reddy was also in attendance, a reminder of a more modest phase in the president's collection of wealthy friends.

Members of the political elite who attended included former ministers Essop and Aziz Pahad, Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba, Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu, Minister of Home Affairs Naledi Pandor and Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture Obed Bapela. The deputy minister of international relations and cooperation, Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim, was also present.

Sir Richard said that although the demonstration had been illegal, the protesters had behaved responsibly during the march. "We will investigate what happened subject to our rules ..." He also denied that health and safety regulations had been broken.

No details of a honeymoon have surfaced, but the couple have returned with their families to India, where a rapturous reception party for more than 5000 guests is due to take place in Saharanpur.

When Vega met Aakash

The couple met at the Taj Hotel in Delhi with their families - it was "a typical Hindu arranged marriage". Last week, she revealed what attracted her to the Delhi property mogul: "It's a mutual admiration, which starts from the families we come from and the culture in which we are brought up. And, more than anything, it was his humility and kind nature."

On her honeymoon destination, Vega said: "I really don't know. I guess it's a surprise." Asked to describe Aakash's personality, she replied: "He holds a master's degree in international business. He's tall and handsome. He is very business-minded, but also down to earth." The couple will live in Delhi, where Vega will complete her private helicopter pilot's licence.

The Jet

The cost of chartering the Airbus A330-200 from Jet Airways is unknown, but an aviation expert put the cost of fuel alone for the return trip in the region of R2.3-million to R2.5-million.

The aircraft flew from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi to Waterkloof, then on to OR Tambo International and back to India.

But the total charter cost would have been significantly higher, because it would include fees for the pilots and crew, their accommodation, airport fees incurred at OR Tambo, and wear and tear on the Airbus.

Rooms, beds and fun

• The Palace of the Lost City: At a minimum of R6000 a night, the 200 rooms over three nights cost about R3.6-million.
• The five-star Cascades Hotel: At a minimum of R2000 a night, the 188 rooms over three nights cost about R1.1-million.
• Exclusive use of the Valley of the Waves: R550000 a day.