State capture inquiry begins

https://mg.co.za/article/2019-05-03-booysen-testifies-about-gupta-visit-why-he-didnt-tell-ntlemeza

During the fourth day of his testimony before the commission — chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo — Booysen recounted his alleged encounter with Rajesh ‘Tony’ Gupta at the family’s Saxonwold home in August 2015.

Booysen alleged that he was driven to the Gupta residence by former president Jacob Zuma’s son, Duduzane.

When asked if he took any steps to report the surprise meeting to his superior at the Hawks, Booysen said that it had already become “abundantly clear” that “Ntlemeza was not somebody to be trusted”.
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Booysen testified that at the meeting, Gupta congratulated him for being considered to take over as the national head of the Hawks. “Very few people knew that I had been shortlisted for the post,” Booysen added.

According to Booysen, Gupta said they would have a celebratory dinner in KwaZulu-Natal if he was eventually appointed. “I didn’t respond because it was a bit of an uncomfortable situation,” Booysen said.

Booysen said that the implication was that, should he be appointed, Gupta “would have had a hand in my appointment and I would be indebted to him”. He conceded that this was “never said”, but was what he understood from the exchange.
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Booysen alleged that, prior to Ntlemeza’s appointment as acting Hawks head, there was “an unholy alliance” between him and then Crime Intelligence boss Richard Mdluli to get rid of Dramat.

Dramat was suspended in 2014 for his alleged involvement in the unlawful renditions of Zimbabwean nationals in 2010.

Booysen referred to an affidavit by Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) investigator Innocent Khuba, who alleged that Ntlemeza told him in as early as September 2013 that he would head the Hawks.

Khuba also alleged that he met with Ntlemeza in December 2014 at a Wimpy restaurant in Polokwane. “I found him seated inside. He said that his time to move to the Hawks had arrived and that there was going to be a hit on Dramat.”

Booysen said on Friday that Ntlemeza was “undoubtedly handpicked for the position”. “It is the only conclusion that I can come to,” Booysen said, telling the commission that Ntlemeza was not “remotely” equipped to run the Hawks.

According to Booysen, Dramat was at the helm of the Hawks when a number of corruption investigations had been underway. Dramat occupied the post when Mdluli was charged with fraud and corruption in 2011.

“My conclusion is that they had to get rid of Dramat because he was looking into the Mdlulis of the day … He was replaced by someone pliable like Ntlemeza,” Booysen said.
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State capture inquiry to probe allegations of Transnet kickbacks to Guptas

The judicial commission of inquiry into state capture will turn its attention to investigating wrongdoing at state-owned freight rail company Transnet from Monday, including allegations of kickbacks to members of the Gupta family.

Advocate Paul Pretorius, one of the commission's evidence leaders, said on Monday morning that allegations of payments to front companies, under the guise of promoting BEE, would be investigated in coming days and weeks.
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More at : https://www.fin24.com/Economy/state...ions-of-transnet-kickbacks-to-guptas-20190506
 
13 witnesses, over 26,000 pages in reports: Zondo inquiry zooms in on Transnet

PRETORIA - At least 13 witnesses have been scheduled to testify and more than 26,000 pages of reports will be submitted to the state capture commission of inquiry when it deals with corruption at Transnet.
The evidence leaders started proceedings on Monday with an opening statement and an overview of the vast amount of evidence to be submitted.
Most of the allegations pertain to procurement irregularities that have cost the state and taxpayers billions of rands.
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More at: https://ewn.co.za/2019/05/06/13-wit...in-reports-zondo-inquiry-zooms-in-on-transnet
 
It was a sophisticated operation: Popo Molefe on how Transnet was captured

Transnet board chairman Popo Molefe has described the capture of the state-owned company as a "sophisticated operation" put into effect after Brian Molefe was appointed chief executive in 2011.
Popo Molefe, who was testifying at the state capture inquiry on Tuesday, began with a short opening statement which described in brief the dire situation they found at Transnet when he and his board were appointed in May 2018.

He described Brian, at the point when he was appointed at the head of the company in 2011, as "a man who was well-educated, and in many ways, was respected, was trained by the government under some of the ministers who are highly respected".
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More at : https://www.timeslive.co.za/politic...ion-popo-molefe-on-how-transnet-was-captured/
 
Collusion trumped qualifications and skills in state capture project, says Popo Molefe

Transnet board chairperson Popo Molefe has outlined a pattern of state capture at the state-owned company which included replacing competent leaders with "cronies" to further an agenda of corruption.

Making an observation about the prevalence of state capture at Transnet, Molefe told the state capture inquiry on Tuesday that the starting point was to make sure the "decision-maker" is captured.

"The starting point is to make sure that you capture the decision-maker, the person in the top position, [then] identify all other strategic positions, which positions will play a critical role in the allocation of budgetary resources in the company, the group CEO, the CFO, the treasurer, chief procurement officer and the key people in operating divisions," he said.
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More at : https://www.timeslive.co.za/politic...ls-in-state-capture-project-says-popo-molefe/
 
Brian Molefe, Siyabonga Gama and Anoj Singh 'architects of state capture' at Transnet

The model of state capture at Transnet was built on three basic pillars.

This is according to the state-owned company's board chairman, Popo Molefe, who told the state capture inquiry that upon the board's appointment in May 2018, they were "astonished by the widespread corruption and willful disregard of the rules".

Upon investigation, the board determined a pattern of a three-pronged approach through which the entity was captured before their appointment. The first, he told the commission, was "you are either with us or against us".
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More at : https://www.timeslive.co.za/politic...ingh-architects-of-state-capture-at-transnet/
 
https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/...s-head-of-new-npa-investigating-unit-20190517

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed advocate Hermione Cronje as head of the new Investigating Directorate at the NPA. This unit will be located in the office of Shamila Batohi, the National Director of Public Prosecutions.
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Prior to joining the Bar six years ago, she spent 12 years prosecuting cases as part of the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) under Willie Hofmeyr.
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Let's hope Hermione knows a spell for getting convictions.
 
3WA said:
https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/...s-head-of-new-npa-investigating-unit-20190517


Let's hope Hermione knows a spell for getting convictions.
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I think that's an affirmative, nobody better qualified:
She has been on retainer for the past two months, assisting Batohi to set up the structure of the new directorate and to panel-beat the legislation and terms of reference that will govern the scope of its work.

It is understood that Batohi personally requested Cronje come on secondment from the Bar to assist with this crime-fighting project.
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Cronje does have the requisite experience for the job.

Prior to joining the Bar six years ago, she spent 12 years prosecuting cases as part of the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) under Willie Hofmeyr.
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People in these types of positions don't do stupid stuff. It's career ending. Higher powers at play here for sure.
 
thechamp said:
Congratulations and good luck. Any word from the EFF?
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Gotta love Cyril though. I am sure he is going to appoint such a heady mix of people that ramadingdongers and rama-messiah-ers on the forum are going to be scratching their heads here to find something to criticize.

Like wait, is he appointing our people now to fix the mess that his people created?
And EFF will be like - what about our people?
:ROFL::ROFL::ROFL:
 
surface said:
Gotta love Cyril though. I am sure he is going to appoint such a heady mix of people that ramadingdongers and rama-messiah-ers on the forum are going to be scratching their heads here to find something to criticize.

Like wait, is he appointing our people now to fix the mess that his people created?
And EFF will be like - what about our people?
:ROFL::ROFL::ROFL:
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And the Women's league will be even more confused.
 
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