I never took a bribe from Watson - Frolick

He said if any of the Watsons had given him money, Komphela would have seen. Instead, he confirmed Frolick ’ s version of events

ANC MP Cedric Frolick has told the commission of inquiry into state capture that he never accepted a bribe from former Bosasa boss, Gavin Watson.

Frolick, of Port Elizabeth, had applied to give evidence before deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo so that he could respond to the damning allegations made by former Bosasa executive and self-proclaimed whistle-blower, Angelo Agrizzi, who said to have seen bags of money exchanged between the two men on at least two occasions.

Frolick was alleged to have received a monthly retainer of R40,000 from the controversial Bosasa Group to facilitate meetings between the company and politicians.

Frolick, represented by local attorney Danie Gouws, on Friday said he had a longstanding friendship with the Watsons, particularly with disgraced former Eastern Province rugby boss, Cheeky Watson.

He said his relationship with Cheeky, also represented by Gouws in his various legal battles, began in the late 1980s, while he was still a varsity student. They had become close friends.

Cheeky had introduced him to his older brother, Gavin, when they became involved in a non-racial sport movement in the province.

Then, in about 2006, when Cheeky was elected as EPRU president, Frolick took on the role of adviser to the rugby board.

He said he only formally joined the EPRU board in 2012.

The Eastern Cape struggled so we did it “voluntarily ... We only received travel and accommodation support,” he said.

I only learnt subsequently that the travel “agent used was a service provider to Bosasa.” Frolick was referring to Blake Travel. Travel agency owner Douglas Blake has also since confirmed to the Zondo Commission that he had handled Bosasa accommodation and car bookings for clients or affiliates, including former SAA board chair Dudu Myeni, and former minister Nomvula Mokonyane' s daughter, Katleho.

Frolick said he often accompanied ANC MP Butana Komphela on business trips because the two were "comrades and friends" and that Komphela often relied on him for assistance because of his physical disability.

He said if any of the Watsons had given him money, Komphela would have seen. Instead, he confirmed Frolick' s version of events.

It was during a visit to Johannesburg in about 2020 to meet a sponsor for EP rugby that Frolick also went to the Bosasa office to meet Gavin.

“[ Gavin] started complaining about the bad treatment he was receiving from parliament. He said he was not receiving any correspondence from correctional services.”

Gavin had allegedly complained that Bosasa was not being awarded any tenders from the department of correctional services despite being the most qualified for the job.

Frolick then advised Gavin that the best way to handle the situation was to approach former chair of the portfolio committee on correctional services, Vincent Smith, directly.

"I was friends and colleagues with [Smith] “so I said I would do it,” Frolick testified.

Smith, who was in Cape Town, had informed "Frolick that there were big problems around Bosasa.

"But I advised him to hear their side.

"I never advised Smith to go with Bosasa, “only to hear them out and then make a decision.”

Frolick said Smith never expected Agrizzi to be the one to meet him.

Gavin had reportedly phoned Frolick to inform him that he could not make it, but that he had instead sent two people from his office; Agrizzi and board member Gibson Njenje.

Frolick said he had to attend another meeting and when he came out of his office, Smith, Agrizzi and Njenje were already done with theirs.

He invited the men for lunch as a courtesy

The Eastern Cape struggled so we did it voluntarily

... We only received travel and accommodation support. I only learnt subsequently that the travel agent used was a service provider to Bosasa

and then they left, he said.

“I never received money from Gavin.”

While he admitted that Bosasa had indirectly fitted the bills for his travel, he said at the time he had been under the impression that the arrangements made by Cheeky had come from EP rugby s coffers.

Then, in 2016, Frolick allegedly arranged for justice and correctional services minister Michael Masutha to stay at a Port Elizabeth property belonging to the Watson family. Frolick, however, said the Watsons property was only made use of at the time because everything else in the city was already fully booked.

“Mr Masutha only used the house on the

Saturday night.”

Frolick only admitted to receiving a desktop computer from Cheeky for work purposes with the rugby administration, and clothing for his birthday, which he declared.