Ex-Bosasa boss implicates two ministers
FORMER Bosasa chief operations officer Angelo Agrizzi yesterday disclosed shocking details of the millions he said the company paid to bribe employees of state-owned entities. Those ostensibly bribed for their co-operation in facilitating tenders for Bosasa included two current cabinet ministers.
Agrizzi told the commission of inquiry into state capture that Bosasa, now called African Global Operations, paid up to R6 million a month in bribes to senior officials of state-owned entities such as the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) and the SA Post Office (Sapo).
According to Agrizzi, Bosasa boss Gavin Watson showered Sapo’s former head of security, Siviwe Mapisa, the brother of Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and the post office’s former chief executive, Maanda Manyatshe, with expensive gifts including Cartier and Monte Blanc pens, as well as cuff-links and watches.
He also identified senior ANC leaders such as International Relations and Co-operation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, Mapisa-Nqakula and former National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli’s wife Girly Pikoli as some of the shareholders of Dyambu Holdings, Bosasa’s former name.
Agrizzi told the commission Watson knew the money they paid to senior employees of state-owned entities constituted bribes.
He said Bosasa was awarded a contract to build a multi-storey car park for Acsa, allegedly after paying bribes.
Agrizzi said the lowest amount he paid in bribes was R5 000, which was recorded as a bonus, while he facilitated amounts up to R1m and ”sometimes more”.
He said Watson would boast about paying state officials and claim he was looking after them.
“He trusted my knowledge and ability,” Agrizzi said of Watson, adding that he was very close to him.
Agrizzi also told the commission Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers’ Union general secretary Simon Mofokeng was also on Bosasa’s payroll to give the controversial company access to Sasol,
where the Cosatu affiliate organises.
Mofokeng, Agrizzi testified, had influence at Sasol and had built a phenomenal network at the company.
Agrizzi, who worked for Bosasa from 1999 until 2016, said he later learnt that Mofokeng’s wife Maureen was hired by the company to head up its training department.
While servicing a contract with one of the major mining companies, said Agrizzi, Bosasa also paid for the maintenance of vehicles for officials of another Cosatu affiliate, the National Union of Mineworkers.
He described working for Bosasa as similar to being involved in a cult and that he was Watson’s right-hand man.
Bosasa, explained Agrizzi, became something of a cult and Watson would invite prophets and pastors to preside over all-night prayers.
He revealed that in 2013 former SAA chairperson Dudu Myeni showed him National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) files and that prosecutors were bribed to quash charges against the company’s employees.
Agrizzi said NPA officials were bribed to impede the prosecution of Bosasa employees implicated in a Special Investigating Unit (Hawks) probe. Agrizzi has also reported threats to his and his family’s safety to the Hawks. His life was in danger, head of the commission’s legal team Paul Pretorius said.
Agrizzi believes testifying before the commission will protect him, and he has been provided with security.
The shocking nature of his evidence forced the commission not to notify parties and individuals of his testimony, as has been done previously.
Instead, individuals and parties implicated by Agrizzi were only informed telephonically yesterday, Pretorius said.