Gigaba ‘broke all VIP rules’, Witness 3 tells Zondo commission

The day-to-day functioning of the police VIP Protection Unit demands officers complete log books and diaries – a legal requirement.

But to former public enterprises minister Malusi Gigaba, who allegedly prevented an officer reflecting visits to the Saxonwold Gupta compound, the legal procedure applied differently, his former driver yesterday told the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture.

The former minister’s bodyguard is now under a 24-hour police protection and is referred to as Witness 3.

Gigaba’s counsel, Richard Solomon, tore into his earlier testimony that:

• On six visits to the Gupta family residence, Gigaba came out with money stashed in a bag.
• The reason for log books and diaries not reflecting entries to the Gupta Saxonwold family home was due to Gigaba’s instruction.
• Former Eskom chair Dr Ben Ngubane, former president Jacob Zuma and former Eskom executive Matshela Koko were among several high-profile figures who frequented the Gupta compound.

“In the absence of independent objective evidence, it is your word against the minister,” said Solomon.

“You said that in one of these occasions, you drove Mr Gigaba alone. Would that not be a breach of security protocol?”

Replied Witness 3: “On the day in question, the minister said he wanted me to take him somewhere when I had knocked off. On the way, he told me that we were going to the Gupta residence.”

Solomon: “Would that not have been a breach of protocol, because you were not authorised to drive Mr Gigaba?”

Witness 3: “I was given instructions by the minister himself.”

Solomon: “Mr Gigaba denies that you drove him anywhere – let alone to the Gupta residence.”

Witness 3: “I went to the Gupta residence about six to seven times.

“During that period, I saw former president Jacob Zuma, Mr Gigaba’s wife, Mr Matshela Koko and Dr Ben Ngubane – among others.”

Solomon: “Were these visits recorded in Mr Gigaba’s diary?”

Witness 3: “I was asked not to register the visits to the Gupta family home on some occasions.”

Solomon: “In your affidavit you say not all of these visits were recorded in the minister’s diary.”

Witness 3: “By instructions of the minister, I did not record in the logbook the visits to the Gupta family as those were unofficial trips.”

Solomon: “We have no way of testing your version. It is your word against the minister.”

brians@citizen.co.za

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