Watsons: why we stayed silent
New files from late Bosasa boss Gavin Watson offer new evidence implying ex-chief operating officer Angelo Agrizzi may have committed perjury during his testimony at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture.
Files from late brother offer new evidence that contradicts former Bosasa COO’s version.
New evidence that emerged this week from the files of late Bosasa CEO Gavin Watson offers a vastly different side of the story in the Bosasa scandal and, if true, could mean former Bosasa chief operating officer Angelo Agrizzi may have perjured himself at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture.
The new evidence is, according to Watson’s nephew Jared, part of what Gavin would have presented to a SA Revenue Service (Sars) inquiry into his tax affairs, had he not died in a mysterious car crash on August 26.
According to Watson, a chartered accountant, Gavin had already appeared before the inquiry and was cooperating with it in an effort to clear his name.
Agrizzi and his cohorts, at the start of the year, offered shocking revelations about how Bosasa had allegedly bribed its way into winning multibillion-rand contracts from the government. The reputation of the company, with its about 4 500 employees, was effectively destroyed and Bosasa went into voluntary liquidation.
When asked why Watson, or the company, had not rushed to the commission to offer their side of the story, Jared said: “They thought it was already too late.”
According to Jared, they found out about Agrizzi’s testimony on January 16, when they turned on their TVs and saw Agrizzi “spilling the beans” to Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
Jared claims Watson and Bosasa’s lawyers advised the company not to say anything in response. The effect of this was that the narrative offered by Agrizzi, former Bosasa chief financial officer Andries van Tonder, former fleet manager Frans Vorster and former auditor Peet Venter went unchallenged – until now.
When asked to give details on what of Agrizzi’s testimony wasn’t true, Jared said: “It would be easier, and quicker, to try to find the few things he said that actually were true.”
The Watson file and documentary evidence in each case where Agrizzi allegedly deceived the commission and perjured himself have been in the possession of The Citizen for several days, and has also been uploaded to Biznews, by journalist Alec Hogg.
The Watsons feel their rights were infringed by their not having been contacted in advance by the commission to be informed they would be implicated, and to prepare a response in turn.
“You are supposed to receive a 3.3 notification at least two weeks before your name is mentioned,” said Jared Watson.
They are not the only ones who argue that the commission did not respect its own rules in dealing with how Bosasa was implicated by Agrizzi, with Armscor’s Kevin Wakeford having alleged the same earlier this year.
The prospects of a lawsuit against the commission – if it ever materialises – are unclear, since there has been no legal precedent for it in South Africa. If the state loses the case, taxpayers would have to foot the bill.
Agrizzi still faces charges in a criminal case brought against him for his involvement in a R1.6 billion prisons tender given to Bosasa.
He nevertheless yesterday dismissed the new evidence from the Watsons, despite its detail, and has questioned why the family did not present any of this information and version of events to the commission, instead choosing to do it through the media.