Batohi in the dark about Bosasa arrests, while Agrizzi claims sabotage

According to journalist Karyn Maughan, the National Prosecuting Authority has confirmed to the Sunday Times that newly instated National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Shamila Batohi was “not briefed or consulted” about the impending arrests of several people linked to the department of correctional services and Bosasa.

The journalist reported on Saturday that Angelo Agrizzi, the hugely controversial facilities management company’s former COO and one of those arrested – has alleged that the arrests aim to sabotage the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture, something the Hawks have denied.

NPA has confirmed to @SundayTimesZA that NDPP #ShamilaBatohi was not briefed or consulted re #Bosasa arrests -and “has requested an urgent briefing from the prosecutors”.
This as Hawks deny Agrizzi accusations that the arrests were aimed at sabotaging the Zondo, Mokgoro inquiries

— Karyn Maughan (@karynmaughan) February 10, 2019

Agrizzi, along with his co-accused, appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Court on Wednesday last week following the Hawks swooping down upon them.

A draft charge sheet lists the former commissioner of the department of correctional services (DCS), Linda Mti, as accused number one, with the former DCS CFO Patrick Gillingham, Agrizzi, former Bosasa CFO Andries Van Tonder, and Bosasa, Sondolo IT, and Phezulu Fencing (subsidiaries of Bosasa) as his co-accused.

Agrizzi himself is not the only person who has questioned the arrests. The President’s Keepers author Jacques Pauw expressed misgivings, saying the arrests may send mixed signals to those who were still planning on testifying at the Zondo commission.

Why have the Watsons not been arrested? Where is Myeni? And Mokonyane? And the others? And why have their assets and that of Bosasa not been frozen? Because believe me, as we speak, they are hiding money and destroying evidence.

— Jacques Pauw (@Jaqqs) February 6, 2019

Pauw also asked why Gavin Watson and those of his family members implicated in widespread corruption had not yet been arrested, a question that has also been asked by the Democratic Alliance (DA).

The DA said following the arrests of a number of suspects in connection with the Bosasa corruption scandal, it was perplexed by the fact that Bosasa CEO Gavin Watson was not among those arrested.

DA spokesperson Natasha Mazzone questioned: “It begs the question, has the R500,000 Watson gave Cyril Ramaphosa to support his campaign to become ANC president and, ultimately, the president of South Africa, bought him immunity from prosecution?”

(Compiled by Daniel Friedman)

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