Both the United Kingdom and USA probes are directly related to allegations of money laundering in 2013, around the time of the infamous Gupta wedding, which was thrust into the spotlight when wedding guests bypassed South African laws by landing at the Waterkloof air base.
RBPlat, a black-owned mid-tier producer of the precious metal, is the latest South African company to cut ties with companies linked to the Guptas, accused of using their friendship with President Jacob Zuma to win state contracts.
It was Lord Hain who tabled a question in September about the work PR.
The Chancellor says the government recognizes that “tackling corruption requires collective worldwide action”.
The long arm of the law is finally catching up with South Africa’s crony capitalist Guptas and their network of criminality and corruption.
In a statement, the Treasury said: “The government takes such allegations seriously and that’s why the letter has been passed on to appropriate authorities”.
Both the Guptas and Zuma deny allegations of corruption and that their relationship gave the Gupta family an unfair level of influence over politics, which also benefited them financially.
Lord Hain told the House of Lords that as much as £400m of illict funds from South Africa may have been “transnationally” laundered, and called for the Government to ensure those funds were returned to the country’s treasury.
Earlier this year, British PR firm Bell Pottinger collapsed after becoming embroiled in the scandal, after it was ejected from the UK PR industry body for allegedly helping stir up racial hatred on behalf of the Guptas.
This comes amid Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond agreeing with UK Labour MP Peter Hain that an investigation into the matter is required.
Spokespeople for HSBC and Standard Chartered declined to comment.
The FBI in the U.S.is also investigating the matter.
A spokeswoman for the FCA said it was already in contact with the banks named by Lord Hain and would “consider carefully further responses received”.
The Gupta brothers Ajay, Atul and Rajesh Gupta have interests in computer, mining, media, travel, energy and technology and employ about 10,000 people through their company Sahara Group.