''The Republic of Gupta: A Story of State Capture '' is a 2017 book by South African investigative journalist

Pieter-Louis Myburgh Pieter-Louis Myburgh is a South African investigative journalist. Myburgh attended Paul Roos Gymnasium before obtaining his BPhil in Journalism at honours level from Stellenbosch University. On 18 March 2016 he was honoured with the 2016 Taco K ...

Background and synopsis

The Republic of Gupta investigates the business activities of the

Gupta family The Gupta family is a wealthy Indian-born family with business interests in South Africa, whose most notable members are brothers Ajay, Atul, and Rajesh "Tony" Gupta—as well as Atul's nephews Varun, and US-based Ashish and Amol. The family ow ...

and how they came to hold a position of such power and influence over the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma. It is an exposé of the many controversial business activities of the Gupta family from cricket to computers to newspapers and television. The book explores their conflict with Public Protector

Thuli Madonsela Thulisile Nomkhosi "Thuli" Madonsela (born 28 September 1962) is a South African advocate and professor of law, holding a chair in social justice at Stellenbosch University since January 2018. She served as the Public Protector of South Africa ...

and with the Finance Minister

Pravin Gordhan Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan (born 12 April 1949) is a politician and anti-apartheid activist who has held various ministerial posts in the Cabinet of South Africa. He served as Minister of Finance from 2009 until 2014 and again from 2015 until 2017 ...

which led to his dismissal by Zuma. The book also investigates the other close links between the Gupta family and others within South African politics and society.

Reception

In ''

The Sunday Times ''The Sunday Times'' is a British newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News UK, w ...

'' Graeme Hosken praises the book as "fascinating". Hosken writes that Myburgh "discloses their thirst for control and wealth through outrageous manipulation".

References

2017 non-fiction books Deep politics Investigative journalism Penguin Books books Non-fiction books about organized crime Jacob Zuma Works about corruption Corruption in South Africa African National Congress Books about the African National Congress {{poli-book-stub