Gupta family
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAn Indian-origin business family whose South African commercial interests became closely associated with allegations of political influence, corruption and state capture.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Gupta family is an Indian-origin business family best known for its commercial expansion in South Africa and its close relationship with former South African president Jacob Zuma. The family’s most prominent business figures include brothers Ajay Gupta, Atul Gupta and Rajesh “Tony” Gupta, together with members of the wider family such as Varun Gupta, Ashish Gupta and Amol Gupta. Their businesses operated across information technology, mining, engineering, media, property and hospitality. The family moved from Uttar Pradesh, India, to South Africa in 1993 and established Sahara Computers, a hardware-distribution business that became the foundation of a broader commercial network. Over time, the family’s interests were consolidated or associated with companies including Oakbay Investments, Oakbay Resources and Energy, Tegeta Exploration and Resources, JIC Mining Services, Shiva Uranium, VR Laser Services, TNA Media and Infinity Media. The group also held property and hospitality assets through Islandsite Investments 180. The family’s public profile grew substantially because of its relationship with Jacob Zuma. The Guptas and Zuma first met at a function at the family’s Sahara Estate in 2003. Zuma’s family members later held positions in some Gupta-linked companies, while the Guptas were reported to have maintained access to senior political and government figures. Critics alleged that this access allowed the family to influence public appointments, state-owned enterprises and government decisions for commercial benefit. The term “Zupta,” combining “Zuma” and “Gupta,” became a political slogan used by opponents of the relationship. The allegations intensified after the 2013 landing of a chartered aircraft carrying guests for a Gupta wedding at Waterkloof Air Force Base. The episode, widely called “Guptagate,” prompted an official investigation, political condemnation and the demotion of a senior protocol official who had authorised the landing. Subsequent reporting connected the wedding’s funding to money associated with the Free State Vrede Dairy Project. South African authorities later pursued the recovery of funds linked to that project. In 2016 and 2017, former politicians and officials publicly alleged that Gupta representatives had offered or discussed cabinet positions and other government appointments. The family denied these claims, as did Jacob Zuma, while some investigative bodies disputed or rejected particular allegations. The wider controversy became part of South Africa’s state-capture debate and contributed to pressure on the Zuma presidency. The family also attracted criticism over a communications campaign conducted by Bell Pottinger for Oakbay Investments. The campaign used online activity and racialised messaging, including attacks concerning “white monopoly capital,” to defend Oakbay and attack its critics. The revelations contributed to the collapse of Bell Pottinger in 2017. After South African banks and business partners withdrew services and political scrutiny intensified, the family left South Africa and was associated with Dubai and other jurisdictions. Oakbay announced sales of its media interests in August 2017 and the sale of Tegeta Exploration and Resources shortly afterward. The family has faced sanctions and investigations in multiple countries. In 2023, the United Arab Emirates declined an Indian extradition request for Atul and Rajesh Gupta, who faced fraud and money-laundering charges in India. The family’s current operating status and remaining commercial holdings are unclear.
History
The family’s South African business story began in 1993, when members of the Gupta family moved from Uttar Pradesh, India, and established Sahara Computers. The company distributed computer hardware and was followed by related information-technology activities, including Sahara Systems. The family subsequently built a diversified portfolio rather than remaining focused on one sector. Mining became central to the group’s South African profile. Its interests included Oakbay Resources and Energy, Tegeta Exploration and Resources, Shiva Uranium, Westdawn Investments trading as JIC Mining Services, Black Edge Exploration and VR Laser Services. These businesses covered coal, uranium, gold, platinum, diamonds, mineral processing, contract mining and industrial steel processing. Oakbay Resources and Energy began trading on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in November 2014. The family also expanded into media. TNA Media published The New Age, while Infinity Media operated ANN7, a 24-hour news channel. Property and hospitality investments were associated with Islandsite Investments 180, which held assets in several South African cities and other locations. The scale and diversity of these interests made the family prominent in South African business, while their political connections made them a focus of sustained public scrutiny. The Guptas’ relationship with Jacob Zuma became the defining feature of their public reputation. The family met Zuma at a function at the Sahara Estate in 2003. During the following years, relatives of Zuma held positions in Gupta-linked companies, and the family was reported to have maintained access to senior political figures. Critics argued that this relationship created a channel for private influence over public decisions, including cabinet appointments and state-owned enterprises. The Guptas and Zuma rejected claims that the relationship produced improper benefits. The 2013 Waterkloof incident sharply increased scrutiny. A private aircraft carrying wedding guests was allowed to land at a South African Air Force base. The authorisation was investigated, and a senior official was demoted after being found to have improperly invoked Zuma’s name. The family apologised and said special permission had been sought because government ministers were among the guests. The affair became known as “Guptagate.” Later allegations connected wedding expenditure to the Free State Vrede Dairy Project, leading South African authorities to pursue funds associated with the project. In 2016, allegations by former officials that Gupta representatives had offered cabinet posts intensified the state-capture debate. The African National Congress opened an inquiry, though its leadership later questioned whether the available submissions justified continuing it. The Hawks described some reports of impending charges as baseless, while other investigations and public inquiries continued. The term “Zupta,” popularised by political opponents, became shorthand for the alleged fusion of Gupta business interests and Zuma-era political power. The family’s communications strategy also became controversial. Bell Pottinger, working for Oakbay, was accused of orchestrating online activity that inflamed racial divisions and promoted narratives about white monopoly capital. The revelations damaged Bell Pottinger and contributed to its collapse. At the same time, South African banks and suppliers withdrew services from Gupta-linked businesses, placing pressure on the group. Oakbay announced the sale of its media units in August 2017 and the sale of Tegeta later that month. The family had by then largely left South Africa and was associated with Dubai, Switzerland and other jurisdictions. International sanctions and criminal investigations followed. In 2023, the UAE refused to extradite Atul and Rajesh Gupta to India in connection with fraud and money-laundering charges. The family’s present business structure and activities remain uncertain.
- 2023
UAE refuses extradition of Atul and Rajesh Gupta
[1]The UAE declined an Indian extradition request concerning fraud and money-laundering allegations.
- 2017
Oakbay announces media and mining disposals
[1]Oakbay announced sales of its media units and Tegeta Exploration and Resources amid intensifying scrutiny and banking difficulties.
- 2016
State-capture allegations become a national political issue
[1]The family’s relationship with Zuma and allegations of influence over appointments and public enterprises became central to South Africa’s political debate.
- 2014
Oakbay Resources begins JSE trading
[1]Oakbay Resources and Energy began trading on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on 28 November.
- 2013
Waterkloof wedding controversy
[1]A Gupta wedding charter flight landed at Waterkloof Air Force Base, causing the controversy known as Guptagate.
- 2010
Shiva Uranium acquired
[1]The family acquired the uranium and gold operation formerly associated with Uranium One.
- 2003
First reported meeting with Jacob Zuma
[1]The Guptas and then-deputy president Jacob Zuma met at a function hosted at the family’s Sahara Estate.
- 1993
Sahara Computers established in South Africa
[1]The family began its South African business activities with a computer-hardware distribution venture.
Products and positioning
A diversified, politically connected business family rather than a consumer-facing brand. Its public identity is defined less by a single product than by a cross-sector South African business network and the controversy surrounding alleged political influence.
Information technology · 1993
Sahara Computers
The family’s founding South African business, focused on computer hardware distribution and related technology activities. It provided the commercial base from which the wider Gupta business network expanded into mining, media and other sectors.
Mining · 2014
Oakbay Resources and Energy
A mining and processing company associated with gold, uranium, platinum, coal and diamonds. Its activities included multiple mining methods and it began trading on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 2014.
Coal mining
Tegeta Exploration and Resources
A Gupta-linked coal exploration and mining company. Oakbay announced its sale in August 2017, with conditions concerning employment and black economic empowerment participation.
Newspaper
The New Age
A national daily newspaper published by TNA Media, a Gupta-linked media company. The publication later ceased operating.
Television news
ANN7
A 24-hour South African news channel operated through Infinity Media. Oakbay announced the sale of the media business in 2017.
Controversies
2017
Vrede Dairy Project funding allegations
Investigators alleged that public money connected to the Free State Vrede Dairy Project was diverted through Gupta-linked structures, including funds associated with the Gupta wedding.
2017
Bell Pottinger manipulation controversy
A campaign for Oakbay was accused of inflaming racial tensions and using fabricated online activity to deflect state-capture and corruption criticism.
2016
Alleged influence over cabinet appointments
Former officials alleged that Gupta representatives offered government positions in exchange for favourable commercial decisions. The family and Zuma denied the claims.
2013
Guptagate and the Waterkloof landing
A chartered aircraft carrying guests to a Gupta wedding was allowed to land at a South African military air base. An investigation found improper authorisation and a senior protocol official was demoted.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Oakbay public-relations and social-media campaign
South Africa · United Kingdom
Bell Pottinger conducted communications work for Oakbay that was accused of using coordinated online accounts and racially divisive messaging to defend the company and attack critics.
Outcome. The revelations caused severe reputational damage to Bell Pottinger and contributed to the agency’s collapse.
Brand decisions
2017
Sale of Oakbay media interestsM&ABackground
Oakbay faced escalating political scrutiny and difficulties with banks and suppliers.
Action taken
Oakbay announced the sale of Infinity Media and its stake in TNA Media to Lodidox. The announced consideration was vendor-financed.
Aftermath
Opponents argued that the structure could leave the family with continuing influence or ownership.
2017
Sale of Tegeta Exploration and ResourcesM&ABackground
The disposal occurred during the wider retreat of Gupta-linked businesses from South Africa.
Action taken
Oakbay announced the sale of Tegeta to Charles King SA, with employment and empowerment conditions.
Aftermath
The transaction formed part of the group’s dismantling or restructuring amid investigations and commercial pressure.
Sources1 sources
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