Posts for February 2019
5 February 2019
n assortment of witnesses appeared before the commission of inquiry into state capture on Tuesday, all giving evidence relating to Bosasa. They included Adriaan Basson, editor-in-chief of News24, who related how Bosasa employees and service providers threatened him during the time he was investigating the company.
Bosasa employees and service providers threatened journalists
7 February 2019
Former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi is out on R20 000 bail, having been arrested this week on fraud and money-laundering charges. Appearing alongside him at the bail hearing were erstwhile colleagues Andries van Tonder, the former CFO of Bosasa; former Bosasa fleet manager Frans Vorster; former CFO of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), Patrick Gillingham; and others.
Bosasa execs and pals charged 10 years after SIU investigation
11 February 2019
Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor returned to the hot seat at the commission of inquiry into state capture on Monday, to answer to allegations she had made in an affidavit last year. Most of the morning’s proceedings focused on travel records of both Mentor and some of the people she had implicated in her testimony in August 2018.
Vytjie Mentor returns to be cross-examined
12 February 2019
Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor stuck to her guns on Tuesday, not deviating from evidence she has submitted to the commission of inquiry into state capture regarding the issue of the Gupta brothers being part of an August 2012 state visit to China, led by former president Jacob Zuma.
Mentor presses on despite discrepancies in testimony
13 February 2019
Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor, despite being pressed, would not budge on the veracity of her version of the evidence. Mentor faced the legal representatives of former chief of staff in the office of Jacob Zuma, Lakela Kaunda, and advocate Mandla Mtolo of the Hawks. Both questioned her version of events.
Mentor cross-examination reveals inconsistencies
14 February 2019
The credibility of former MP Vytjie Mentor’s evidence to the state capture commission took another knock on Thursday with the testimony of architect Erna Wiese in relation to the layout of the Gupta family home in Saxonwold, Johannesburg. Mentor alleges a meeting occurred in 2010 between herself and Ajay Gupta. Wiese was part of a team of senior architects, valuers and surveyors who accompanied Mentor and a team from the commission on an inspection of the house.
Mentor’s recollection of Gupta house inconsistent with expert findings
14 February 2019
The testimony of IPID executive director Robert McBride was postponed indefinitely on Thursday, because his sworn statement was only received late on Wednesday, and as a result the commission’s lawyers had not had sufficient time to notify the people implicated in his evidence.
McBride testimony postponed until implicated persons have been notified
18 February 2019
Former finance minister Des van Rooyen’s application to cross-examine the department’s former director-general Lungisa Fuzile at the commission of inquiry into state capture was postponed on Monday, because of logistical issues raised by the commission chairperson, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
Van Rooyen’s application to cross-examine former finance DG on hold
19 February 2019
National Treasury’s chief director of macro-economic policy, Catherine MacLeod, testified at the commission of inquiry into state capture on Tuesday, giving insight into the damage caused to the economy by former president Jacob Zuma’s cabinet reshuffles, specifically because of the negative reaction of financial markets.
Zuma’s agenda-driven cabinet reshuffles created havoc in financial markets
20 February 2019
Eskom chairperson Jabu Mabuza will testify before the commission of inquiry into state capture on Friday, and is expected to give insight into the financial status of the power utility when the new board took over last year. Essentially, the events of 2015, the commencement year of the R3-billion contract with coal supplier Tegeta, will form a large part of the evidence sought by the commission for the coming few weeks.
Eskom’s procurement processes to be closely scrutinised
21 February 2019
Wednesday, 20 February, marked the beginning of the commission’s focus on state-owned entities in the state capture project, with Eskom first in line.
Eskom’s disregard of procurement processes in the spotlight
22 February 2019
Overdue announcement of results, a bad credit record, no funding, and threats of no further funding. This is the Eskom Jabu Mabuza and the rest of the board found when they started in January last year. The board inherited a financially unstable company, and there have been many hurdles to overcome.
Eskom, from world’s top five to total dysfunctionality
22 February 2019
Eskom chairperson Jabu Mabuza has told the commission of inquiry into state capture that it is important for the utility to have the confidence of investors and funders, because it relies heavily on this for survival.
Eskom must have investor confidence to survive
25 February 2019
Eskom board chairperson Jabu Mabuza concluded his appearance before the commission of inquiry into state capture on Monday. He said that Eskom’s most vulnerable period was between March and December 2015, when a change in leadership enabled third parties affiliated to the Guptas to run amok, pillaging the power utility’s finances along the way.
27 February 2019
Former chief executive of Glencore, Clinton Ephron, has told the commission of inquiry into state capture how a struggling Optimum coal mine was at Eskom’s mercy for years while negotiating for an amendment to their coal supply agreement.
Struggling Optimum helped to its doom by Eskom
28 February 2019
When former sports and recreation minister Fikile Mbalula was informed of his imminent promotion by members of the Gupta family. He reported this at a meeting of the ANC’s national executive committee but to members’ consternation, former president Jacob Zuma did not address the issue on the day, or on any other occasion after that.
Mbalula’s 2011 Gupta disclosure swept under the carpet
