{{A senior South African diplomat has been suspended over use of a military airport by wealthy Indian supporters of President Jacob Zuma, the government said Thursday, amid a deepening political scandal.}}<\/p>\n
The foreign ministry’s chief of protocol Bruce Koloane was placed on leave pending an investigation into how the Guptas, a wealthy Indian family, landed at a military airforce base outside Pretoria en route to a wedding.<\/p>\n
A large charter plane landed at Waterkloof air force base on Tuesday carrying 200 guests who received a full police escort to the Sun City resort for the four-day wedding of 23-year-old Vega Gupta.<\/p>\n
Media reports said Bollywood singers and actors were among the guests at what was promoted as the “wedding of the year”.<\/p>\n
But revelations that the plane used a facility supported by taxpayers prompted a political furore, with some of Zuma’s closest allies demanding answers.<\/p>\n
The foreign ministry said “no executive authority” was granted to approve the landing, but that “some officials” were involved.<\/p>\n
As a result Koloane was placed on “compulsory leave” pending a probe into “the circumstances under which the clearances for the aircraft to land were secured.”<\/p>\n
That brought allegations of a cover-up and suggestions that Koloane was being made a scapegoat, both of which were rejected by the government.<\/p>\n
The Gupta family, originally from India, is one of the richest in South Africa, and well-known benefactors of the ruling ANC.<\/p>\n
The family owns a range of businesses including Sahara Computers and the pro-government New Age newspaper.<\/p>\n
The family on Wednesday said it had received permission for the aircraft — which was carrying “foreign ministers and other dignitaries” — to land at the base.<\/p>\n
{AFP}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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