Bosasa CEO could make people ‘disappear’ and 5 other shocking state capture allegations

Former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi told the commission of inquiry into state capture on Wednesday that he has feared for his life following his decision to give testimony, as he has been warned that former CEO of the controversial company, Gavin Watson, can “make people disappear”.

This was one of the many bombshells dropped by Agrizzi, who said that he felt like he was in a cult at times during his 17-year long stint at the firm.

Other shocking allegations made during Agrizzi’s testimony include:

• Dudu Myeni gave Agrizzi confidential NPA information

Agrizzi says he was granted access to confidential NPA files by former SAA boss Dudu Myeni. How she herself gained access to the files is not yet clear.

The inquiry’s Advocate Paul Pretorius said an affidavit by lead investigator Frank Dutton outlines Agrizzi’s claim that at a meeting, Myeni and Watson gave him the confidential files. The files are now in the possession of the inquiry who will use them as evidence.

• Bribes were handed over in grey cash bags 

Agrizzi claimed that he was present at meetings for Dyambu – as Bosasa was known before changing names – where Watson allegedly paid money to the late Jackson Mafika at Kloof gold mine to secure support for the company.

Agrizzi claimed that the cash was delivered and typically handed over in grey cash bags, but conceded to Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo that he did not see the money itself. Mafika was ANC chief whip at the Westonaria Municipality and the head of NUM in the area at the time.

• Agrizzi avoided tax by paying half his salary to his wife 

Sometimes at pains to explain some of the shenanigans, Agrizzi also revealed that his salary at Dyambu was split into two between him and his wife for the benefit of reducing his tax bracket even though his wife was not employed by Dyambu. Agrizzi’s wife was his personal assistant when he was with Molope.

• Bosasa gave an ex-union boss a R15,000 a month ‘gift’ 

A former senior official within the union CEPPAWU, Simon Mofokeng, had “cold meats and cold drinks” paid for on a monthly basis by Bosasa so that the company could secure a tender with Sasol, according to Agrizzi. He says Bosasa wrote off the gifts to Mofokeng, which averaged R15,000 monthly, as marketing costs.

• Bosasa’s former CEO helped out his ‘comrades’ with funeral costs

Agrizzi said he had a very close relationship with Watson as he trusted him with highly confidential information, and that Watson had told him that he helped union leaders, whom he called “comrades”, at various mines with funerals expenses. Agrizzi said he would later learn that people were paid to support Dyambu effort’s to win tenders.

(Compiled by Daniel Friedman. Additional reporting by ANA and Makhosandile Zulu)

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