Gupta family apologises for racist slur
6 May 2013 2:33 PM IST
A wealthy Indian family here has apologised to Indian and South African governments as well as to the public for triggering a huge scandal in their effort to host a ‘memorable’ wedding for their daughter that led to the suspension of five senior officials and a probe.
The Gupta family, which has close ties to South African President Jacob Zuma, made global headlines when a plane, chartered by them, carrying around 200 guests from India, landed at Waterkloof Air Force base on Tuesday without proper authorisation.
‘In light of what happened... the family would like to issue a general apology to all affected, including the South African and Indian governments, the local authorities, the South African public and especially our guests,’ Atul Gupta said in a statement issued yesterday. He said his family was ‘simply trying to give daughter... a memorable wedding on South African soil’.
‘The allegations of racism regarding the staff are definitely untrue. If there was an isolated incident involving any of our guest (we) apologise unreservedly to any party affected,’ Gupta said.
The family, which owns The New Age newspaper and Sahara Computers, celebrated the wedding of Vega Gupta, 23, to India-born Aaskash Jahajgarhia at Sun City on 3 May.
The Gupta family, which has close ties to South African President Jacob Zuma, made global headlines when a plane, chartered by them, carrying around 200 guests from India, landed at Waterkloof Air Force base on Tuesday without proper authorisation.
‘In light of what happened... the family would like to issue a general apology to all affected, including the South African and Indian governments, the local authorities, the South African public and especially our guests,’ Atul Gupta said in a statement issued yesterday. He said his family was ‘simply trying to give daughter... a memorable wedding on South African soil’.
‘The allegations of racism regarding the staff are definitely untrue. If there was an isolated incident involving any of our guest (we) apologise unreservedly to any party affected,’ Gupta said.
The family, which owns The New Age newspaper and Sahara Computers, celebrated the wedding of Vega Gupta, 23, to India-born Aaskash Jahajgarhia at Sun City on 3 May.
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