NATIONAL NEWS - Minister of Environmental Affairs Nomvula Mokonyane said she would testify at the commission of inquiry into state capture and give an “honest” account of her relationship with Bosasa CEO Gavin Watson’s family.
Testifying at the commission, Bosasa former chief operating officer (COO) Angelo Agrizzi said the company approached Mokonyane because they thought she was “powerful” and needed her on their side. They said her proximity to former president Jacob Zuma ensured the company had protection at all times.
“We knew she was very close to the president at the time. Even further than that, if there were certain people that needed to be spoken to in the Hawks, we knew that she would be able to do that and that is why it continued. She’s powerful and we had to get her on our side. She was like an Energiser bunny. If you needed things to be done, it would be done. If we had any issues, it would be sorted.”
Agrizzi had earlier told the commission that for years Bosasa paid Mokonyane R50,000. The company’s CEO, Gavin Watson, “would take money with him to see the minister”.
He said he packed the money which Watson “often would deliver in front of me”.
Agrizzi said the R50,000 was given to Mokonyane over a few occasions, adding that he could not recall the period of time but it was a long time over the years, which he said: “Never, ever stopped.”
