Ex-journo Laufer slams Agrizzi’s claims of bribery

A former journalist and public relations consultant for Bosasa, Stephen Laufer, has denied claims by former Bosasa executive Angelo Agrizzi that he was paid to influence journalists, saying he would be willing to testify before the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture if required.

“I was clear from day one in my discussions with senior Bosasa executives, including Agrizzi, that I was not available for any work which was either illegitimate, illegal or underhand. I would only assist the company for as long as the task was to portray it in as positive a light as possible, based on the facts of its work,” said Laufer in a statement yesterday.

He said he was approached by Bosasa to assist them with media relations in late 2006.

“As is the case with the many dozens of other companies and institutions I have supported with communications advice since 2001, I drafted a media strategy aimed at showcasing the company’s activities and successes.”

He added: “I drew the line when I was asked to undertake what for me were clearly unethical activities directed against specific journalists named by Mr Agrizzi.”

“I fired Mr Agrizzi and his company immediately as clients. Mr Agrizzi is well aware of all of this. I would be very happy to make myself available to the Zondo commission if required,” said Laufer.

He said the relationship with Bosasa ended in late 2007.

Agrizzi told the commission yesterday that the company paid R30 000 to journalists to write positive stories about Bosasa.

He said he was approached by the company’s executive director, Papa Leshabane, who requested an amount of R71 000, with R30 000 of this amount set aside for paying the journalists.

The names of the journalists appear in his black book used to record the money the company officials allegedly paid as bribes.

Agrizzi has been providing explosive testimony at the inquiry. He has even mentioned threats made against journalists who wrote against Bosasa.

Any journalist who went against the company or its officials was threatened, according to his testimony.

In response to Agrizzi’s testimony, journalist Pinky Khoabane said she “refutes all claims that I received any money from Bosasa”.

Khoabane said Agrizzi claimed that the payments to journalists started in 2012 but she had no contact with Bosasa until last year.

“I had no contact with Bosasa until late 2018 in a discussion around how the image of Bosasa could be turned around,” said Khoabane. “I will be consulting a lawyer to take this further.”

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