Guptas beef up estate security

09 February 2016 - 02:23 By Shenaaz Jamal and Neo Goba

Armed guards have been dispatched to the Gupta estate in Saxonwold, as Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema and thousands of his supporters prepare to march to Constitution Hill this morning.The EFF are, however, not the only ones marching to Constitution Hill today, as the ANC Youth League is also planning to march in defence of President Jacob Zuma.The DA and civic organisations are expected to stage their own marches on the venue.Speaking to The Times, a guard in the street alongside the Gupta estate said Malema's threats last week to "deal with" the Gupta family and its business interests were taken seriously. "My brother, our bosses are very updated with security. As you can see, it is beefed up. They don't take the EFF threats lightly."Last week Malema declared war on the Gupta family and Zuma saying they engaged in "money laundering and racketeering" through media interests they controlled. The Gupta family owns The New Age newspaper and television channel ANN7. EFF said journalists working for these entities were not welcome at their gatherings and if they did attend, their safety would not be guaranteed.Today the Constitutional Court is expected to hear arguments from the EFF and the DA after they took Zuma to court following his failure to implement the public protector's recommendations that he pay back part of the money used for security upgrades to his home in Nkandla.After years of refusal, with the police minister and parliament absolving Zuma of liability, last week Zuma proposed to repay some of money as recommended by the public protector.However, the EFF and the DA said this was too little too late and the court should decide.The EFF march is expected to start at 10am at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown.Johannesburg Metro Police Department spokesman EdnaMamonyane said the department would try to keep the ANCYL march separate from that of the EFF but could not confirm whether the ANCYL had been granted permission to march along the same route as the EFF."We have enough manpower to deal with issues when it comes to the march because when we give permission [to march] we put the operational planning in place," said Mamonyane.SA Police Service spokesman in Gauteng Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said enough police officers would be dispatched to the march.Traffic will be controlled by the metro police working with the SAPS and Gauteng traffic police.Mlondi Mkhize, ANCYL national spokesman, said the march was intended not only to defend the president but democracy.He said the Nkandla saga was not the fault of Zuma but a result of mismanagement by the Department of Public Works, as various commissions have found.EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said his party members would defend themselves should anyone try to interfere with or disrupt the march...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.