Mokonyane got R4m Aston Martin ‘through a friend’

● Former minister tells inquiry car acquired in terms of business deal

Former environmental affairs minister Nomvula Mokonyane acquired a luxurious Aston Martin vehicle through a “business arrangement” from a family friend‚ the state capture inquiry heard yesterday.

The vehicle became the subject of an investigation after testimony in July by Charl le Roux — an electrician who did work for Bosasa and Mokonyane — who spotted the vehicle inside a garage.

It had been covered with a special cover.

The testimony followed that of Bosasa’s former chief operating officer‚ Angelo Agrizzi‚ who led evidence that Mokonyane received monthly payments from the company.

An investigation by the commission found that a deposit of R2.2m was paid towards Mokonyane’s car.

Evidence leader Viwe Notshe SC questioned Mokonyane’s ability to afford the car‚ as her then salary could not cover it.

“My husband had been doing some work.

“He had ventured into a very closed sector of business.

“He had people who were mentoring and supporting him‚ and they could see it was a good business which had a chance of growing,” Mokonyane said during testimony yesterday.

She said she and her husband met with two family friends‚ one identified as Thaba Mofumadi‚ who agreed to pay the deposit for the car.

“He [her husband] then made [an] arrangement with the friends‚ who are not doing business with the government‚ and they were able to make this assistance.

“In return‚ they were going to be part of his partnership on the work of the Eskom contract.

“That’s how the deposit was made‚” she told the commission.

Mokonyane said she‚ however‚ felt the need to contribute towards the vehicle because “I have my own pride”.

The commission revealed she paid just over R20‚000 in monthly instalments and almost R900‚000 in total.

She said there had been nothing untoward with the gesture of the friends.

“We are a family that has got friends who understood our pain of always being deprived of opportunities.”

Asked if the arrangement was contained in a document‚ Mokonyane stuttered and argued it would have been between the three.

Notshe questioned if the arrangement was a loan or not.

“My take is that if we get through that Eskom deal‚ finally‚ surely‚ they will be invited to be a part of it.

“We will have to pay him back if this thing does not go anywhere‚” Mokonyane responded.

Mokonyane yesterday denied allegations that security upgrades at her home were paid for by Bosasa, saying the state was responsible for some upgrades and others were paid for by her late husband.

Mokonyane’s name has been flagged by several witnesses at the inquiry, who claimed that Bosasa financed her 50th birthday party, security upgrades and sponsored her family’s Christmas groceries.

Mokonyane said: “My husband was responsible for the maintenance of the house, including even procuring the services of other people — which I am still using, even today.”

While Mokonyane could not furnish the commission with documents proving who was responsible for home security upgrades or maintenance, deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo suggested it was “strange” that her late husband would call her former PA to contact “another person” each time something needed fixing at home, without Mokonyane’s knowledge.

Mokonyane, through her lawyer, asked to be excused after testifying due to ill health and also to cross-examine Agrizzi.

“She has very serious health concerns with comorbidities,” advocate Laurence Hodes said.

“This room is not conducive to her condition and what happens is each time she testifies there’s a subsequent character assassination of her in the media and there are leaks from journalists.”