Bombshells from Booysen in testimony at inquiry
Former KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Johan Booysen told the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture that then provincial police commissioner Mmamonnye Ngobeni put pressure on him to drop an investigation into alleged fraud and corruption involving wealthy Durban businessperson Thoshan Panday during the Fifa World Cup in 2010.
He also revealed that Edward Zuma had been involved with doing business with Panday.
Panday’s company, Gold Coast Trading, which won a South African Police Service (Saps) tender to provide accommodation for officers for the duration of the event, pocketed R60 million, with R45 million paid upfront and R15 million paid while an investigation was going on.
Booysen recounted how Ngobeni became a thorn in his side and that of Hawks investigator Vas Soobramoney during the probe into irregularities in supply chain management and a corrupt relationship between Panday, Colonel Navin Madhoe and Captain Aswin Narainpersad.
Booysen said Ngobeni made several calls to him and held meetings in a bid to get him to stop the investigation into the Panday -Saps deal. “Noticeably upset, she would call me and instruct me to stop the investigation and would hardly give me time to speak before abruptly dropping the phone.
“She had the right to give an instruction, but not to stop an investigation.”
The probe, involving an independent forensic financial investigation by PricewaterhouseCoopers, revealed that:
Prices for services to Saps were hugely inflated.
Panday paid R30 000 for a birthday party for Ngobeni’s husband.
Panday charged Saps for everything from blankets to car hire, television sets and accommodation.
All transactions went through Panday’s account.
Panday purchased a Ferrari worth R2.5 million from his dealings with Saps.
So deep was Ngobeni in the businessperson’s pocket that she called Booysen to a meeting with Pandy and his lawyer in June 2010. Booysen said: “That meeting was like an ambush. It was starting to become clear something was amiss.
“Panday was asking me to stop any investigation against him, while Ngobeni sat quietly. He accused Vas of extortion.”
Booysen said Edward Zuma asked him to assist in unfreezing R15 million belonging to Panday’s business because he had invested in the venture. He refused.