Sisulu dismisses Agrizzi allegations
Minister demands correction of statements made in public
INTERNATIONAL Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has dismissed former Bosasa chief operations officer Angelo Agrizzi’s evidence before the commission of inquiry into state capture that she was a director or shareholder of the controversial company’s predecessor.
Agrizzi had told the commission, headed by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, on Wednesday that Sisulu was either a director or shareholder of Dyambu Holdings, which later became Bosasa.
Sisulu has since demanded that Agrizzi correct his statement in public and at the commission.
Agrizzi also identified Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and former national director of public prosecutions Vusi Pikoli’s wife, Girly Pikoli, as some of Dyambu Holdings shareholders.
The commission was forced to adjourn early yesterday after Agrizzi identified one of the company’s security officials who had entered the venue unlawfully.
Agrizzi, who worked for Bosasa, now known as African Global Operations, until December 2016, testified that special operations manager Solomon Segale had slipped into the venue of the hearings with an expired police identity card.
Segale is a former high-ranking police officer who also worked for the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa).
Agrizzi said he had noticed Segale during one of the adjournments. The head of the commission’s legal team, Paul Pretorius, promised that an investigation was under way and that the inquiry’s security detail would produce a report on the alleged breach.
According to Agrizzi, he noticed Segale speaking with police officers providing security at the commission.
Justice Zondo said the commission would look into Segale using an expired police identity card to evade security. He said a “security situation” had become prevalent at the building in Parktown, Johannesburg.
“It is necessary that measures be taken to ensure that those who come to this hearing are safe. The work this commission must do will continue,” said Justice Zondo.
Agrizzi continued his testimony, disclosing that Bosasa boss Gavin Watson had warned him that employees who knew too much, could be disposed of.
“There was a dustbin with people’s names,” he said.
He also noted that Bosasa employees worked in an environment that was very dangerous.
Agrizzi recalled an incident in which he was summoned to the Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton, where he found his then boss with controversial former police officer Nkosana Sebastian “Killer” Ximba, who is now Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina’s head of security.
Agrizzi testified that during the meeting with Watson and Ximba he had been shown a .45 Colt revolver.
Agrizzi also explained that Watson would never sign any document and told his employees that they would never pin anything on him.
“Had I come to the commission without evidence, everything would be pinned on me alone,” he told Justice Zondo.
Agrizzi also provided the commission with an explosive video recording in which Watson, Bosasa chairperson Johannes Gumede and director Papa Leshabane were seen carrying stashed cash in R100 and R200 notes to allegedly bribe some of the senior government officials who awarded lucrative tenders to the company.
He said the safe in which Watson kept the money for bribes had to be filled up weekly and sometimes more frequently, particularly during the festive season.
Agrizzi is expected to continue giving evidence today.