News24.com | LIVE: There were rumours of ‘cash flowing around’ at Transnet, certain car boots filled with cash – former treasurer tells #StateCaptureInquiry
2019-06-07 11:30
The judicial commission of inquiry into state capture continues with further Transnet-related testimony from former group treasurer Mathane Makgatho.
WATCH LIVE: State Capture Inquiry
(Courtesy of SABC)
Last Updated at
Share
Makgatho: “As I have indicated before, I have worked with Brian Molefe before, and I believe that he knows my technical ability. And I believe that he knows whether I’m a person to be trusted, or not to be trusted.”
Makgatho: “So, I think he was in between, and he was trying to bridge the gap between me and the GCFO, and he couldn’t get me to move from where I was. He knew that he couldn’t tell me directly and he knew that on the other side, this other team is also not moving…”
Makgatho: “We had engagements with him so many times in his office, where [there] would be bickering between me and Mr Singh, and he would try to mediate. And I think that this transaction was going to happen, but he just needed me to cross over.”
Share
Makgatho: “If we felt that the pricing was too excessive, the normal procedure was to terminate discussions and focus on other cost-effective facilities.”
Makgatho says when the meeting concluded, Singh asked for a private meeting with one of the Chinese counterparts, which she was not part of. Makgatho says that he said he was managing him and stressing that Transnet is interested.
Makgatho: “I just noted that he was a happy chappy after that meeting.”
Makgatho says that shortly after this, Singh’s travel plans had almost immediately changed and he told Makgatho that he would no longer be travelling home with her, but he would rather be going home via London.
Singh asked Makgatho to gather his luggage from his hotel room and take it back to SA with her.
Share
ICYMI:
Zuma had hands-on role in running of ANN7, inquiry hears
Former president Jacob Zuma was actively involved in the running of the now defunct TV news channel ANN7, the state capture inquiry heard on Monday.
Testifying at the Zondo commission on Monday, ANN7’s former editor, Rajesh Sundaram, said although Duduzane Zuma, the son of the former president, was a shareholder, his involvement was minimal.
Sundaram told the inquiry’s chairperson, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, that Zuma had a “much bigger interest” in the station.
He told the commission about how he got the sense that the Guptas had good ties with the president. “President Zuma was very warm toward them.”
Share
ICYMI:
Ex-ANN7 editor Sundaram ‘has an axe to grind’, says former colleague
Former ANN7 editor Rajesh Sundaram, who was tasked with kick-starting the channel, has been accused of having an axe to grind and justifying his “lack of success” at the now-defunct TV channel.
This is according to an affidavit written by former ANN7 editor-in-chief Moegsien Williams.
During Sundaram’s testimony on Tuesday, evidence leader advocate Thandi Norman SC read out parts of Williams’ affidavit.
In it, Williams said he considered allegations made by Sundaram in a serious light, adding that his reputation might now be destroyed as a consequence of “allegations made by an individual who has an axe to grind”.