The Democratic Alliance on Wednesday questioned whether Eskom boss Brian Molefe had been "captured" by the Guptas after he once again defended the controversial family and its businesses.
This comes after Molefe on Tuesday said that there was no reason why the power utility should not do business with the Guptas.
Gupta-owned Tegeta Exploration and Resources, through its mining company Optimum Coal, has a tender worth more than R500 million to supply coal to Eskom’s power stations.
Molefe went on to claim that the Guptas had been subjected to a "kangaroo court" by certain banks after four major banks cut ties with the family’s businesses.
"There is a kangaroo court happening in South Africa about the Guptas. I don’t see any reason why Eskom shouldn’t do business with them," Molefe told Radio 702 on Tuesday.
Molefe said this after Eskom released much improved results on Tuesday, saying it would no longer be a constraint to South Africa’s economic growth.
Eskom’s revenue increased by 10.6 percent to R163 billion, while profits grew by 57 percent to R4.6 billion.
But DA spokesperson on finance, David Maynier, was not impressed with Molefe coming to the defence of the Gupta family.
Maynier said the fact that Molefe was touted as a future finance minister was "a terrifying prospect for South Africa".
"Yesterday, Brian Molefe, reportedly vociferously defended the Guptas claiming they have been subjected to a ‘kangaroo court’ by certain banks," Maynier said in a statement.
"And, in May, he again reportedly defended the Guptas claiming they were ‘friendly and likable people’."
Maynier said Molefe seemed to conveniently forget certain "inconvenient facts", including that Atul Gupta and Ajay Gupta were being investigated by the Hawks for alleged corruption following the statement by Deputy Minister of Finance, Mcebisi Jonas, implicating them in "state capture".
Maynier said although it had not been possible to confirm, indications were that the Guptas were also being investigated by the Financial Intelligence Centre and the South African Reserve Bank for allegedly illegally transferring assets, including large amounts of cash, out of South Africa.
"It’s high time Brian Molefe focus on his real job, which is to keep the lights on," Maynier said.
– African News Agency (ANA)
