The NPA says it remains confident the state capture-accused Gupta brothers will be brought to SA for criminal prosecution, reports News24. This despite the NPA having no active extradition proceedings against any of the three Gupta brothers.

A 2023 attempt to extradite Ajay’s brothers, Atul and Rajesh, failed after a court in the UAE ruled on a technicality not to go ahead with it.

In June, former President Jacob Zuma visited a temple in Haridwar, India, accompanied by Ajay Gupta, and SA High Commissioner to India Anil Sooklal.

Speaking on the NPA’s Graft Under Watch episode on Friday, NDPP Andy Mothibi, said ‘continued efforts’ were under way to ensure the Gupta brothers were accountable for their alleged role in state capture.

‘We have been quite hard at work to pursue the mutual legal assistance … that is regulated by the UN Convention,’ he said.

‘We are contacting the UAE colleagues, and they are really at a stage where they are indicating how they would assist,’ he said.

Mothibi said the NPA is also in contact with Indian authorities in its pursuit to bring the Gupta brothers back to the country.

‘In India we have got mutual legal assistance. We are currently working on an MOU … on an agency-to-agency (basis) in India.’ Interpol was also being roped in for assistance, Mothibi said. 

News24 reports he noted that Interpol uses a methodology called the Red Alert.

'Once the Red Alert is issued, it goes across the world so that wherever these fugitives (are), the countries that the alert has been issued to are able to assist,’ he said.

Mothibi said the NPA and Idac  ‘will not tire … to ensure that we continue to pursue these fugitives and the assets that may have left the country for other various countries'.

He added that the NPA was working towards improving Idac's integrity, accountability and ethical standards.

Acting Idac head, Advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara, said the integrity of the institution is at the top of his agenda after Advocate Andrea Johnson resigned as Idac head following intense scrutiny at the Madlanga Commission.

Full News24 report