Posts for October 2019
1 October 2019
Although he never had any cash advances made out in his name, former crime intelligence head General Richard Mdluli was responsible for about R5-million of the unit’s funds being spent on the salaries and work-related expenses of seven relatives employed under suspicious circumstances by CI. These employees very rarely presented themselves for duty, and would spend their time either shopping or maxing out petrol cards issued by CI. Theirs were among 250 appointments that would later catch the eye of the Hawks.
Mdluli nepotism, lease scheme revealed
2 October 2019
Former crime intelligence (CI) officer Dhanajaya Naidoo closed off his testimony at the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture with a tearful apology for his role in the looting of CI’s secret service account. Naidoo made more revelations about the looting of the slush fund and the intelligence officers who unlawfully benefited from the account.
CI slush fund used for private perks
3 October 2019
The Vrede dairy farm project was again the topic under discussion at the commission of inquiry into state capture as former head of the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Peter Thabethe, made a return to the stand. Thabethe’s first round of testimony had to be adjourned after his legal team allegedly ditched him. He came back to give evidence about his role in the controversial dairy farm project.
Gupta wedding flight opened Vrede dairy can of worms
7 October 2019
For years there has been a strong narrative of Duduzane Zuma being a fixer and conduit between the Gupta family and influential government leaders, and it does not surprise him that details of such would surface before the commission of inquiry into state capture.
Zondo commission – Duduzane denies all allegations of impropriety
8 October 2019
Duduzane Zuma has told the commission of inquiry that the court of public opinion has rendered him a corrupt individual, despite the contrary being true, mainly due to the narrative put forward by the media over the years. He returned to the commission on Tuesday to wrap up his testimony
“I am looked at as a criminal,” says Duduzane
11 October 2019
The US has blacklisted the Gupta family, in a move praised by Justice Minister Ronald Lamola, on Thursday. Meanwhile, the dates for the return of former president Jacob Zuma to the commission of inquiry into state capture were confirmed.
Guptas on US blacklist, and the imminent return of Jacob Zuma
16 October 2019
The Guptas were no strangers to the structures of the Free State provincial government and were known to many officials who worked there – so much so that a mid-2010 executive committee meeting discussing a proposal to advertise in, and subscribe, to their New Age newspaper gave the administration the green light to do this.
Guptas were familiar in Free State government circles
17 October 2019
Former president Jacob Zuma will no longer appear before the commission of inquiry into state capture next week as previously announced by its chairperson Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
Zuma’s October appearance cancelled, November still on the schedule
31 October 2019
Mark Pamensky, the man reported to have been the Gupta ally within the board of Eskom when the family held lucrative coal contracts, took the stand at the commission of inquiry into state capture on Thursday. Pamensky, a qualified auditor, told the commission that he applied for a position on the power utility’s board in response to a newspaper advert in late 2014, with the intention to help the company reverse the financial disarray it was in at the time. He was at Eskom from December 2014 to November 2016.
Former Eskom director Pamensky takes the stand
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