Manyi storms state capture inquiry without lawyer

Who would dare to testify at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture facing Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo without a lawyer?

Mzwanele Manyi would.

He is the former chief executive officer of the Government Communications and Information Systems (GCIS).

Unlike the son of the former president, Duduzane Zuma, who earlier in the morning arrived accompanied by a group of lawyers to confirm a date for the cross-examination of former finance deputy minister Mcebisi Jonas, Manyi was only armed with some documents, which did not quite constitute a proper legal bundle.

And he got some people in the public gallery giggling yesterday as he made an appeal to Zondo to address the commission.

“I was summoned to appear here today and had prepared myself psychologically last night,” said Manyi.

Zondo said he regretted the summons error made by the commission’s legal team. He suggested Manyi should instead testify fully on November 23 “to give you time to prepare”.

After lunch, Zondo relented and allowed Manyi to put forward his side of the story without being led by any member of the commission’s legal team.

Unorthodox in his presentation, Manyi used the opportunity to rubbish acting GCIS chief executive officer Phumla Williams’ earlier testimony, waving a report from National Treasury which he said proved the rampant corruption he uncovered during his tenure at the agency.

Among other allegations, he said that Williams, who chaired the GCIS bid committee, presided over a questionable tender process that led to government losing R7 million.

ALSO READ:  I dismantled ‘mini VBS’ at Phumla Williams’ GCIS – Manyi

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.