SAP finds indications of misconduct in S Africa on Gupta links

[JOHANNESBURG] SAP said an internal probe into the German software company's South African business found instances of misconduct related to businesses connected to the Gupta family and started disciplinary procedures against three employees.

While SAP didn't find evidence of payments to South African government officials or employees of state-owned companies Transnet and Eskom Holdings, it "uncovered indications of misconduct in issues relating to the management of Gupta-related third parties," the company said in a Thursday statement.

"We cannot emphasise enough how seriously the SAP executive Board takes these allegations, or how committed we are to managing this process in a transparent, ethical and responsible way," SAP executive board member Adaire Fox-Martin said in the statement.

SAP, along with auditors KPMG LLP and consultant McKinsey & Co, have become entangled in allegations surrounding the Gupta family, who are friends with President Jacob Zuma.

They have been accused of using their connections to win lucrative state contracts. Both they and Mr Zuma deny wrongdoing.

BLOOMBERG