Jacob Zuma has denied that a luxury home in Dubai has been bought on his behalf by business associates amid claims it may be a bolthole for him to flee corruption allegations.
The £19 million marble, gold and mosaic-laden villa on a golf estate is thought to have been bought in 2015 by the Gupta brothers, who run a vast business empire. A letter, apparently drafted on behalf of the South African president to the rulers of the United Arab Emirates, in which he asks to use the tax haven as his “second home”, suggests he intended to use the address as his own.
The draft was leaked to the South African media among documents and emails said to have been exchanged by Ajay, Atul and Rajesh Gupta and Duduzane Zuma, the president’s son.
The Indian-born brothers are alleged to have used their close links to the Zuma family to win lucrative state contracts, something they deny. Opposition parties have laid charges against Mr Zuma, his son and the Guptas. An official inquiry has been ordered into corruption allegations.
The villa was bought after a viewing by Rajesh “Tony” Gupta in 2015, according to South Africa’s Sunday Times. Reporters said that a gold plaque on the gate read “Gupta”.
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Mr Zuma’s spokesman said that the claims were made up and he intended to live at his estate in KwaZulu-Natal when he retired in 2019.