Posts for July 2019
1 July 2019
Apart from giving instructions for the appointments and dismissals of senior executives without following due processes, former South African Airways chairperson Dudu Myeni was not above fabricating whistle-blower complaints to taint members of staff whom she wanted removed.
Myeni hired and fired at will at SAA
2 July 2019
Tony Gupta wanted government to allow his family to hold a welcome party on the tarmac of OR Tambo International Airport in 2013, most likely to prove his influence and importance to guests from India who were coming to a family wedding.
Guptas pushed for permission to hold a party on ORTIA tarmac
3 July 2019
The commission of inquiry heard how former chief of state protocol and now ambassador to the Netherlands, Bruce Koloane, abused the names of former president Jacob Zuma, as well as ministers Ben Martins and Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, to approve the landing.
Guptas defied govt resistance to special aircraft landing arrangements
8 July 2019
Jerry Matjila, former director-general for the Department of International Relations (Dirco), has described to the commission of inquiry into state capture the panic within the department after the Gupta family landed a private aircraft at Waterkloof air force base in Pretoria in 2013.
Dirco panic as unsanctioned Waterkloof landing was followed by wayward guests
8 July 2019
“I was just acting purely under the presumption that there had been total compliance [by the high commissioner],” said former chief of state protocol and now ambassador to the Netherlands, Bruce Koloane, in relation to the approval of the landing of a civilian aircraft, carrying Gupta wedding guests, at Waterkloof air base in 2013. “It’s important to note that I didn’t say approve or decline the request. I just said process the request so the process of clearance can be conducted.”
Koloane claims misunderstanding led to DoD’s Gupta Waterkloof approval
9 July 2019
Six years after the Gupta plane landing saga at Waterkloof air force base in Pretoria, South Africa’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Bruce Koloane, has admitted to name dropping, using the names of former president Jacob Zuma and two of his cabinet ministers to expedite the flight clearance process for the aircraft carrying the Gupta family’s wedding guests.
Koloane on Gupta Waterkloof landing: “I abused the power of my office”
10 July 2019
The commission of inquiry into state capture on Wednesday received a reconciliation of payments made by Transnet in respect of the locomotives deals that were the focus of its attention in May. The biggest shocker was the amount paid to Gupta-linked Regiments for R305-million for advisory services in relation to the R49-billion 1 064 locomotives deal of 2014.
To date, Regiments has scored R305-million from Transnet
11 July 2019
Major Thabo Ntshisi, the Department of Defence official who cleared the private flight from India in April 2013 that landed at the Waterkloof air force base with guests of the Gupta family, denies that he acted under duress from Bruce Koloane to do so, despite the former chief of state protocol having not supplied the requisite paperwork for such a request.
Wheeling and dealing for Gupta Waterkloof landing clearance
12 July 2019
A second company allegedly used to re-channel funds from a R51-million per annum contract by SA Express (SAX) in 2015 has come under the spotlight of the commission of inquiry into state capture. Neo Solutions CEO Vivien Natasen testified on Friday to transactions by former SAX general manager for commercial, Brian van Wyk, which involved Natasen’s company.
Bribes for politicians all in a day’s work for SAX’s Brian van Wyk
15 July 2019
The commission of inquiry into state capture, like many other structures before it, is the product of intelligence forces within and outside the ANC who are conducting a campaign to discredit former president Jacob Zuma. The spies have long had a campaign to discredit Zuma and remove him from any position of leadership. This was the gist of Zuma’s opening remarks before the commission on Monday.
Zuma claims conspiracies and smear campaigns against him
15 July 2019
Former president Jacob Zuma told the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture that he does not recall making the call to Themba Maseko, telling him to assist the Gupta brothers. Maseko at that time was CEO of the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS). During his appearance at the commission in August 2018, Maseko said Zuma had called him and told him to help the Guptas in their pursuit for an alternative newspaper and television station.
Zuma’s memory blank on asking Themba Maseko to assist Guptas
16 July 2019
Former president Jacob Zuma returned to the stand before the commission of inquiry into state capture on Tuesday. He testified that he did not recall interfering in the work of the Government Communications and Information System (GCIS) in relation to the Gupta-owned New Age newspaper, as per the testimony of former GCIS CEO Themba Maseko in August last year.
Zuma claims limited contact with Guptas during set-up of the New Age
16 July 2019
Former president Jacob Zuma’s legal counsel has accused the head of the state capture commission’s legal team, Advocate Paul Pretorius, of trying to invoke certain emotions with his way of questioning. Zuma’s legal team objected to the line of questioning at this morning’s session, claiming Pretorius wants the commission chairperson, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, to read something into it, and that Zuma was ambushed in an unfair cross-examination.
Zuma’s counsel objects to “unfair” line of questioning
17 July 2019
Former president Jacob Zuma refutes the claims made by the former minister of public enterprises Barbara Hogan. Hogan told the commission in November last year that Zuma interfered heavily with senior appointments and wanted specific candidates even if they did not meet the requirements. Zuma denied this on his third appearance at the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture.
Zuma cannot remember insisting on Gama’s appointment as Transnet CEO
19 July 2019
Former president Jacob Zuma will continue to participate in the process of the commission of inquiry into state capture, despite having withdrawn earlier on the basis of unfair conduct. Zuma’s lawyer, Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane, had earlier on Friday declared that his client may even consider challenging the commission’s conduct against him in court.
Zuma reverses direction on withdrawal from state capture commission
19 July 2019
After a meeting between Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, the commission’s counsel and Zuma’s counsel in the chairperson’s chambers, all parties reached common ground for Zuma to continue giving evidence before the commission. This was after he had earlier said, through his lawyers, that he was withdrawing.
Zuma supporters demand equal treatment for all witnesses
22 July 2019
The Free State provincial legislature failed to hold former premier Ace Magashule and his agriculture MEC Mosebenzi Zwane accountable in 2013 after the alleged looting in the Vrede dairy farm project started, the commission of inquiry into state capture heard on Monday. On the witness stand to kick off the commission’s focus on the project – through which over R280-million is alleged to have been looted – was Roy Jankielsohn, a member of the legislature representing the DA.
Free State govt failed to act on alleged Vrede Dairy corruption
