Mantashe fired employee for allowing state capture investigator onto his farm

Minister of Mineral Resources Gwede Mantashe, who is also the national chairperson of the governing ANC, along with his wife, Nolwandle, dismissed one of their employees for allowing the investigator of the commission of inquiry into state capture, Patrick Mlambo, on to their property in Elliot, Eastern Cape.

On Tuesday, Mlambo concluded his second day of testimony on his site visits to confirm security installations allegedly done by Bosasa at the properties of high ranking officials.

These include Mantashe, former SAA board chairperson Dudu Myeni, and former prisons boss Linda Mti.

In January, the commission heard testimony from Richard le Roux, an employee of a Bosasa subsidiary, GTS (formerly known as Sondolo IT), about how a Bosasa special projects team did security installations at the properties of Mantashe, Myeni, Mti, and other high-ranking officials.

READ MORE: Bosasa gave Mokonyane, Myeni, Mantashe and more home makeovers

During his two day testimony, Mlambo told the commission that le Roux had accompanied him on his site inspections, however, the Bosasa employee would not enter any of the properties so as to not influence the investigator in any way.

Mlambo added that Le Roux would list the security features installed by the Bosasa special projects team ahead of their arrival at any of the properties to be inspected.

The investigator further told the commission that after his inspection of the Mantashe’s property he received calls from both husband and wife who expressed their unhappiness for his visit without their permission.

During his inspection, Mlambo was able to identify security features Le Roux said had been installed by Bosasa’s special projects team, which are CCTV cameras and monitors.

Following the inspection at Mantashe’s property, Mlambo obtained invoices from Intaba Lodge in Elliot where the Bosasa special projects team booked accommodation during the installation of the security features at the ANC’s national chair’s property.

The commission has adjourned until Friday, April 5.

(Compiled by Makhosandile Zulu)

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