The Department of Justice and Correctional Services has confirmed that it submitted a request to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) central authority for the extradition of Atul and Rajesh Gupta to South Africa to face charges.

The brothers fled South Africa to Dubai following Jacob Zuma’s recall as President in 2018. The government has said at least R500-billion was stolen during Zuma’s nine-year presidency.

The kingpins behind State capture, during Zuma’s Presidency, were arrested as a result of an Interpol Red Notice issued at the request of the South African government, earlier this year.

Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola explained that the request was made in line with the Extradition Treaty between South Africa and the UAE, as well as the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, a multilateral international convention to which both countries are member States.

The Gupta brothers are accused in the Nulane and Estina criminal matters.  

The Nulane matter is already before the Free State High Court, in Bloemfontein, where a provisional trial date has been set for January 2023.

The Gupta brothers have already been charged and warrants were issued against them in the Estina matter.

In July, the National Director of Public Prosecutions made a request for the extradition of the Gupta brothers from the UAE to South Africa to stand trial on charges of fraud and money laundering.

The National Prosecuting Authority said it was complying with domestic and international legal obligations in the extradition.

Meanwhile, Lamola said his department was striving to be transparent by providing updates on the status of high-profile cases which involved foreign nationals in South Africa, foreign nationals of interest to South African law enforcement agencies and South African nationals in foreign jurisdictions.