AJAY Gupta could soon find himself without a home country.
He isn’t recognised as a citizen in India or South Africa!
While local government officials are still debating the Guptas’ status‚ the Indian government has said they are South African citizens and not Indians.
The statement from the Indian capital of New Delhi came after Home Affairs in South Africa confirmed that Atul and Rajesh Gupta were citizens while Ajay only had a permanent residence permit.
The department said Atul was naturalised in November 2002 and Rajesh in July 2006.
Home Affairs spokesman Thabo Mokgola said the department stood by director-general Mkuseli Apleni’s statement that the Guptas were naturalised before Malusi Gigaba first became minister of the department.
“We don’t have a statement regarding Ajay other than that director-general Mkuseli Apleni released on Sunday,” he said.
The Sunday Times said Gigaba had instructed Apleni to investigate how Ajay obtained a residence permit and to seek legal advice about how to withdraw it.
Gigaba’s instructions came after he met President Cyril Ramaphosa to discuss his statements on Atul Gupta’s citizenship.
