Gert van der Merwe, the Lawyer of the Gupta family is claiming that the man who allegedly plotted to assassinate senior government officials, may be mentally unstable.

“He is not just crazy, he is a cunning businessman. I saw an offer which he made to the Gupta family to pay him a certain amount of money to assassinate Thuli Madonsela,” Gert van der Merwe said on Friday.

A list of names in the “state capture” letter included Gupta brothers Ajay, Rajesh and Atul, SAA board chairperson Dudu Myeni, Cogta Minister Des van Rooyen, State Security Minister David Mahlobo, National Prosecuting Authority boss Shaun Abrahams, Zuma’s son Duduzani, Sars boss Tom Moyane and former Eskom boss Brian Molefe.

A reliable source, close to the Gupta family provided Hinnews.com with two letters, both dated October 25, 2016 – one talking about plots against those involved in state capture, and the other talking about targeting those supporting “white monopoly capital”.

 

Van Der Merwe said: “Ramosebudi got introduced to the internet and then suddenly started writing to everyone. The offer he made to the Gupta family was to kill Thuli and Mcebisi for a preposterous amount of about R30m or R300m, I cannot even remember.”

He went on, “we could not take a chance and not report the matter. I was concerned about the safety of the people on the list and that is why I asked the police to contact them and check on them,” he said.

Ramosebudi is expected back in court on May 2 to meet with a legal aid attorney who would advise him on whether to apply for bail.

Here are the names as they appear on the letter:

Names

Occupation

Jacob Zuma

President South Africa

Ajay Gupta

State Capture and Oakbay Investments

Rajesh Tony Gupta

State Capture and Oakbay Investments

Atul Gupta

State Capture and Oakbay Investments

Varun Gupta

State Capture and Oakbay Investments

Dudu Myeni

Chairperson South African Airways

Des van Rooyen

Minister Co-operative Governance

Collen Maine

ANC Youth League president

Shaun Abrahams

Head National Prosecuting Authority

Mosebenzi Zwane

Minster Mineral Resources

Ace Magashule

Premier Free State Province

David Mahlobo

Minister State Security

Duduzani Zuma

Oakbay Investments and Jacob Zuma son

Tom Moyane

South African Revenue Service

Fana Hlongwana

State capture convenor

Kebby Maphatsoe

Deputy Defence Minister (MKMVA)

Brian Molefe

Eskom chief executive officer

Ben Ngubane

Eskom Chairperson

Anoj Singh

Eskom chief financial officer