The South African Ministry of Justice announced Monday evening in a statement that it had received confirmation of the arrest of two of the Gupta brothers. "The Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services confirms that it has received information from the authorities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) according to which fugitives Rajesh and Atul Gupta have been arrested." The authorities of both countries are in discussion on the procedure to follow, it continues, adding that "the South African government will continue to cooperate with the UAE."

These businessmen of Indian origin had found refuge in Dubai, following the fall of former South African head of state Jacob Zuma. Rajesh and Atul Gupta had been the subject of an Interpol red notice for four months.

Their name has become irrevocably linked to that of Jacob Zuma and those years of plundering South Africa's public resources, recalls our correspondent in Johannesburg, Claire Bargelès. Rajesh, Atul and Ajay are at the center of "state capture," this system of widespread corruption in which the former president was their puppet and which cost the country billions of euros. A system whose workings were detailed in the hearings and reports of the corruption inquiry commission: the brothers could at the time have a say in public appointments, in order to subsequently win many fraudulent and highly lucrative contracts, not hesitating to bring down entire sections of the South African economy.

Now, two of the three brothers are therefore in the hands of Dubai's authorities. The South African Ministry of Justice indicates that discussions are underway to decide on next steps and to establish whether they could ultimately lead to future extradition to South Africa.