Eastern Cape link in tender probe
An independent forensic investigations company has been appointed to compile a report on allegations of corruption involving a prominent Eastern Cape businessman, his company Bosasa and government officials.
On Monday, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Luvuyo Mfaku said the forensic report would form part of a decade-long investigation, currently being undertaken by the Hawks, into alleged billion-rand tender rigging within government departments – particularly correctional services.
And now it appears the gloves are off between Angelo Agrizzi – the would-be whistleblower – and Bosasa boss Gavin Watson, who lives in Johannesburg but was born and raised in the Eastern Cape.
Agrizzi – Bosasa’s former chief operating officer – said on August 21 that he would be spilling the beans, even though that meant implicating himself.
Less than two weeks later, a leaked recording of a conversation – which Bosasa spokesperson Papa Leshabane said had taken place on August 24 and in which Agrizzi allegedly called his black colleagues k ***** s – emerged.
The recording, in which Agrizzi is said to be speaking to Watson’s children, emerged at the same time that weekend reports alleged almost R700,000 had been paid from Bosasa’s coffers to ANC MP Vincent Smith.
The payments were allegedly made in two instalments – in 2015 and in 2016.
Smith denied any impropriety, saying he had believed the money was a personal loan from Agrizzi.
On Tuesday, Smith also asked that he be removed as chair of parliament’s constitutional review committee until a probe into the allegations was finalised, saying that he would also meet with the ANC’s ethics committee.
A Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report, compiled in 2009 by advocate Willie Hofmeyr, implicated Watson, who hails from a prominent, politically connected Eastern Cape family, and the former Nelson Mandela Bay safety and security head Linda Mti, who was previously national prisons boss.
The 2009 report said that Bosasa officials allegedly paid bribes to Mti and correctional services chief financial officer Patrick Gillingham to secure multimillion-rand tenders.
To date, no prosecutions have taken place but the spotlight is once again on Bosasa following Agrizzi’s claims that he would start talking.
Mfaku said once the investigation was complete, and it was decided what, if any, charges should be pursued and against whom, a decision on whether Agrizzi would become a Section 204 witness (state witness) would be made.
“Once the investigation is completed and the NPA decides what charges ... against whom the charges must be ... only then do we ask if we need anyone, who we can use his evidence, as a 204 witness.”
Mfaku did not say when the forensics company had been appointed, and directed further questions to the Hawks.
Questions were also sent to Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi on Monday afternoon, with Mulaudzi promising to answer early on Tuesday.
But he had still not responded by Tuesday afternoon.
The questions related to when the forensic investigation company had been hired, if Watson had been interviewed in light of Agrizzi’s disclosures, why the investigation had been ongoing for a decade, and when it would be wrapped up.
Watson and Agrizzi were tight-lipped on Monday, with Agrizzi saying: “Because we are busy with the disclosures, I cannot discuss anything.
“While I am committed to the free press, I have to abide by protocols set before me.”
Watson, on two occasions, said he was in meetings, adding the second time: “I am trying to run a business.”
A third call to Watson’s phone was answered by African Global Operations spokesperson Leshabane, who asked that the questions be emailed to him.
Bosasa’s name was changed to African Global Operations in 2017. The company is based in Johannesburg, but has offices in Port Elizabeth.
Leshabane responded late on Monday, skirting around the issue of whether or not Watson had been interviewed by the Hawks after Agrizzi had made his statements.
“We think the Hawks are best able to respond to this,” he said.
Leshabane said the company categorically denied any payments to Smith.
With regard to the offensive recording, he said a case had been opened at the Douglasdale police station.
Mti, who was implicated in the 2009 SIU investigations, said he was unaware reports about Bosasa had been in the media again and could not respond to allegations as SIU officials had not consulted him before releasing the 2009 report.
Bosasa, which has secured correctional services department contracts worth billions of rands, first became involved in SA’s prisons in 2004, when it won a catering services tender.
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