‘I fear for my safety’
COMMISSION: ZONDO MOVES TEARFUL WITNESS TO NEW HOTEL AS ‘HER SAFETY IS SERIOUS’
Witness Vytjie Mentor’s tears about a faulty hotel door lock and entry card move Inquiry into State Capture head Raymond Zondo to relocate her as her safety is ‘quite a serious matter’.
First latch broke, then card didn’t work to open her room, Mentor says.
Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has taken a swift decision to relocate former ANC member of parliament Vytjie Mentor to another Gauteng hotel due to her safety concerns.
Mentor, who has been giving testimony at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture yesterday broke down into tears and told commission head Zondo there were signs pointing to her hotel room being unsafe.
“Two nights ago, I discovered
I would like to be informed whether proper arrangements were made for her tonight and whether other measures have been explored for her safety.
Raymond Zondo Deputy Chief Justice
that the latch of the door of my hotel room was faulty, something rendering the door not to function safely.
“When I alerted the hotel, they fixed the problem,” she said.
“This morning, I went back into the room to fetch my glasses and when I tried to open the door with the card, the card could not function and later it opened without the card.
“I cannot sleep in a hotel with a room that is unsafe and can be easily opened.”
Mentor, who today completes her testimony, has been staying in the hotel since arriving to give account of the extent of state capture and corruption during the Jacob Zuma presidency.
Zondo said Mentor’s safety was “quite a serious matter due to her evidence implicating various people”. Mentor was “rightfully concerned” about her safety.
“I would like the legal team to try and see ... where she can spend the night peacefully, even if it means relocating.
“I would like to be informed whether proper arrangements were made for her tonight and whether other measures have been explored for her safety,” said Zondo.