Zondo witness cries foul

NARRATIVE: BELIEVES EVIDENCE LEADER IS ‘WEAPONISING DOCUMENTS’

Commission looks at Guptas’ relationships with communication director-generals.

Former government communication and information systems (GCIS) director-general Mzwanele Manyi yesterday accused advocate Kate Hofmeyr, evidence leader at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, of “not operating in good faith”.

Manyi told Zondo, he had received certain documents at a late stage, which he said was an indication that Hofmeyr was “trying to [place] booby traps”.

These documents, he said, include an affidavit from the director-general of the department of labour, which Manyi headed before his transfer to GCIS in 2011. It states Manyi was paid a salary in December 2010 and January 2011.

“But Miss Hofmeyr wants to push her own narrative of a dismissal,” Manyi said.

Zondo said Manyi’s accusation may be unfair because she had indicated there were certain documents she only received on Wednesday and had made efforts to give copies to the witness. She had also offered witnesses time to study the documents.

Manyi said another example suggesting Hofmeyr was “not operating in good faith” was that on Wednesday she said during his previous testimony at the commission last year he had not told of a disciplinary hearing that was abandoned within 30 minutes.

Zondo pointed out that the commission’s team could also possibly commit human errors.

Hofmeyr said Manyi’s second example was false.

She then asked Manyi to respond to “four false statements” he had made in testimony on Wednesday: that he had not received a termination letter dated