The Gupta family were like "rats abandoning a sinking ship in South Africa", the Democratic Alliance’s (DA's) David Maynier said on Sunday.

His comment came after news broke on Saturday that the controversial family had decided to sell all their shares in South Africa.

The family said exiting their shareholdings in their South African businesses would benefit existing employees and lead to further growth.

“We believe that this decision is in the best interests of our business, the country and our colleagues,” the family said.

Maynier said it was dishonest for the Gupta family to suggest their decision was taken to advance the interests of the country.

They were the subject of multiple investigations, he said, which included alleged corruption and money laundering.

“Things have evidently reached a 'tipping point' and the Gupta family have decided that it’s in their best interests to abandon ship in South Africa,” he said.

The investigations would not go away though, Maynier said, and the DA would ensure they were completed and publicised.