S. African MPs rubbish Indian wedding probe

CAPE TOWN (AFP) - South Africa's political opposition on Wednesday rubbished a government probe that cleared President Jacob Zuma over the use of a military base for a plush Indian wedding.

Slamming the investigation as a whitewash, lawmakers demanded that Zuma and his ministers be held accountable for the scandal and questioned the influence of the wedding's well-connected hosts.

The South African-based Gupta family sparked a furore by flying in a wedding party from New Delhi to the high security air force base where they received a red carpet welcome last month.

The probe found that Zuma, who has close ties to the wealthy family, was not involved in the case.

Justice Minister Jeff Radebe, presenting the findings to parliament, said two officials on "a frolic on their own" had authorised the chartered jet's landing on April 30 with no wrongdoing by leaders.

Any finger pointing at a cover-up was "clearly misplaced", he said.

But this was solidly rejected by the opposition.

"We cannot sit back and allow ministers to get off the hook by hanging a few 'rogue officials' out to dry," said MP David Maynier of the main opposition Democratic Alliance.

"Ministerial heads must roll."

Zuma was the "root cause" of what has been dubbed Guptagate, charged Maynier, who called on South Africans to "fire" him in polls next year.

"He is responsible for creating the 'culture of undue influence' referred to in the investigation report," he said.

It was revealed at the weekend that Zuma's name, and those of the defence and transport ministers, had been used to manipulate official procedures.

Bollywood stars and politicians were among the guests attending the nuptials of Vega Gupta, a niece of the powerful Gupta brothers who own several companies including Sahara Computers and the pro-government New Age newspaper.

Their 121-car convoy was also granted a full police escort to the Sun City resort for the four-day affair billed as "the wedding of the year".

A total of 194 government staff and 88 vehicles were used, 296 private security officers were hired, and two planes and seven choppers used to ferry guests.

The lounges at the base had been decorated by an unvetted company and two red carpets laid out, the report states.

The family was originally turned down by South Africa's main airport OR Tambo International near Johannesburg and by the minister of defence.

However, the Guptas then turned to the diplomatic channel.

An individual at the Indian High Commission "re-designated the wedding entourage as an official delegation" allowing the base to be used "under the cover of diplomatic privilege".

"The landing of the flight was a direct result of manipulation of processes and was undesirable," states the report.