DA urges Ramaphosa to cancel Bosasa contracts and institute an inquiry

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to instruct the government to immediately cancel all contracts and tenders with Bosasa following the “explosive” testimony at state capture inquiry on Wednesday of the company’s former COO Angelo Agrizzi.

Agrizzi’s testimony at the commission of inquiry into state capture revealed how Bosasa, now African Global, spent between R4 and R6 million per month – often hand delivered in cash bags  – on bribes so the company could secure lucrative tenders.

In a statement on Thursday, DA leader Mmusi Maimane said: “These bribes were to ensure the company scored lucrative tenders and contracts with government, to the tune of over R10 billion.

“Agrizzi’s testimony shone a new light on how totally corrupt the ANC government is, and how this corruption spreads far wider than just the Guptas and Jacob Zuma. The relationship between Bosasa and the ANC illustrates how South Africa has been turned into a klepto-state by the ANC.”

Maimane said Agrizzi’s “truly explosive testimony” should prompt Ramaphosa to instruct “his government to immediately cancel all contracts and tenders with Bosasa, and place a strict moratorium on any new contracts with the company or any of its subsidiaries”.

“It is also becoming increasingly difficult for the president to avoid the DA’s earlier calls for an independent inquiry into Bosasa, covering the corrupt company’s full relationship with the ANC and the state – including the relationship between the president’s family and Bosasa. This inquiry should be set up immediately,” Maimane said.

Bosasa made headlines last year after reports surfaced that the company had allegedly paid R500,000 to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s son, Andile.

“Furthermore, I have asked president Ramaphosa when he will be paying back the R500,000 ‘donation’ received from Bosasa CEO Gavin Watson towards his ‘CR17’ campaign to become ANC president,” Maimane said.

The leader of the opposition said the president “cannot play both sides” by condemning state capture and setting up inquiries into “other ANC corruption, but avoid the same inquiries when the corruption involves him”.

“The fact is that Ramaphosa received a R500,000 ‘donation’ from a company that has been paying the ANC bribes since 1999. He can no longer mislead the public into believing that ‘he did not know’. He is also on the record as having told parliament that his son, Andile Ramaphosa, does lucrative paid work for Bosasa. All of this appears no different to every other Bosasa bribe to the ANC since 1999.

“Bribery is corruption, and this is the very antithesis of bringing change that builds One South Africa For All. We must always stand up to corruption that steals opportunity away from ordinary South Africans.”

Agrizzi is back on the stand at the commission today, with the commission looking at his video evidence and audio material.

Adv Pretorius continue with testimony of former COO of Bosasa Mr Agrizzi. Pretorius indicated that Agrizzi's evidence will include a video and audio material. #StateCaptureInquiry

— State Capture Commission (@StateCaptureCom) January 17, 2019

Agrizzi’s video evidence showed activities around the vault at the Bosasa Office where the money used for paying the “bribes” was kept in “Gavin’s safe”, which only Watson had access to.

The commission will now play the video evidence from Agrizzi. the video will show activities around the volt at the Bosasa Office. #StateCaptureInquiry

— State Capture Commission (@StateCaptureCom) January 17, 2019

Agrizzi told the commission that the video was taken by a camera which was in the left-hand pocket of Andries Van Tonder.

The video is now being played. Agrizzi says the person seen taking the box of money is Andries Van Tonder. The Camera was in his left hand pocket. #StateCaptureInquiry

— State Capture Commission (@StateCaptureCom) January 17, 2019

Watch Agrizzi’s testimony:

ALSO READ: Bosasa spent between R4m and R6m on bribes a month, Agrizzi claims

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