Former minister’s wife to testify at inquiry

FORMER Cabinet minister Malusi Gigaba’s legal team will today have to motivate why he should be allowed to cross-examine his estranged wife, Norma Mngoma.

The inquiry will hear evidence from Mngoma regarding Gupta-related matters.

The commission confirmed in a statement yesterday that it will hear the application by Gigaba to cross-examine Mngoma.

Gigaba will also reportedly apply to have Mngoma’s evidence suppressed and deemed inadmissible or be heard privately. The couple are reportedly separated and undergoing divorce procedures.

Mngoma had long promised to testify at the inquiry to reveal what she knew about Gigaba’s alleged relationship with the Gupta family. Her desire to speak out was partly sparked by her arrest in July last year by the Hawks, which saw her spend a night in jail.

She was accused of damaging a R3 million Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon. Her electronic devices were confiscated during the arrest, and she said she believed information linked to Gigaba was wiped out from them.

Mngoma believed Gigaba had orchestrated her arrest, however her estranged husband has publicly denied being involved in the incident.

The High Court ruled in February that her arrest was unlawful and an abuse of power. Mngoma plans to sue the Hawks for the unlawful arrest. Following this ruling, the NPA in March decided to provisionally withdraw the charges because of the High Court ruling.

In a television interview with eNCA in December, Mngoma revealed that she had been to the Gupta compound with Gigaba. She alleged that Gigaba would frequently visit the Gupta family’s infamous Saxonwold compound when he served as minister of Public Enterprises.

Mngoma said Gigaba would receive cash gifts from the Gupta family in exchange for government-related favours.

“We would visit and sometimes we’d get gifts, I didn’t know what for,” she said.

Gigaba has been implicated by several witnesses at the inquiry. A witness who appeared at the inquiry in August last year testified about Gigaba’s visits to the Gupta compound.

The man, referred to as witness 3 to protect his identity, was a driver for Gigaba while he served as minister of Public Enterprises. He recalled driving Gigaba to the Gupta residence on six or seven occasions. He also told the inquiry that Gigaba would sometimes emerge from the residence with a bag filled with cash.

The witness said Gigaba would purchase suits and pay for food using cash bills.

The former minister had publicly stated that he had been called to testify at the commission on March 8 to 12, but his evidence is yet to be heard. He decried not being given permission to cross-examine witnesses who had implicated him.

Based on analysis from previous applications submitted to the inquiry, Gigaba’s legal team will have to substantiate why he wants to cross-examine Mngoma. He will also have to motivate why he believes her evidence should not be heard publicly.