Cape Town - The DA has vowed to report Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa for refusing to publicly say whether she has met the Guptas.
Ramaphosa is the leader of government business, and the DA wants him to act against Brown for her evasive answers.
DA MP and its spokeswoman on public enterprises Natasha Mazzone on Thursday accused Brown of hiding behind the rules governing ministers instead of confirming or denying the meeting.
In her written reply to Parliament, Brown referred Mazzone to the Ministerial Handbook, saying the minister’s duties were outlined in it.
Brown’s spokesman Colin Cruywagen did not reply at the time of going to publication.
The question came after high-profile individuals in the government and outside said they were invited by the Guptas to their home.
Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas blew the whistle in March when he said the Guptas offered him the position of his then boss Nhlanhla Nene in December.
The South African Council of Churches has set up a legal team to gather evidence on state capture and hand it over to the relevant authorities, including the Hawks and the Public Protector.
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has said she will need an additional R3 million to investigate the Guptas.
Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor and ex-Government Communication and Information System head Themba Maseko are some of the people who have come out publicly against the Guptas.
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe announced last week that the ANC had closed its probe on state capture after a lacklustre response.
He said eight people came forward but only one was prepared to make a written submission. The ANC has since asked anyone with information to go to the authorities.
President Jacob Zuma and the Guptas have denied any allegations of state capture or influencing the appointment of ministers in the cabinet.
Political Bureau