‘Mzwanele Manyi is a disgrace,’ cries Cope after testimony at Zondo inquiry

The Congress of the People (Cope) has issued a media statement in the form of a thread of tweets, slamming businessman Mzwanele Manyi as a “disgrace” for allegedly only appearing at the commission of inquiry into state capture in a bid to discredit it.

“The conduct of Mzwanele Manyi during his appearance at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture can only be described as a disgrace to himself and his handlers,” the statement says.

The party accuses Manyi of offering to appear at the commission only to “to display a contemptuous attitude and make spurious assertions” and proceed to cry foul “when their veracity is tested”. This, they said, showed that his appearance at the commission was an “attempt to undermine” it.

READ MORE: UPDATE: Mzwanele Manyi flip-flops on application for Advocate Maleka’s recusal

The statement went on to call Manyi a “hostile” and “untruthful” witness. His testimony, the statement says: “has no credibility – like him.”

It then compares Manyi to “those of his ilk in the BLF and EFF”, saying that both he and they “must know that the majority of law-abiding citizens will not tolerate their unbecoming and destructive conduct”.

The statement then disputes the notion that Manyi represents “black excellence”.

MEDIA STATEMENT
MZWANELE MANYI IS A DISGRACE.
The conduct of Mzwanele Manyi during his appearance at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture can only be described as a disgrace to himself and his handlers @pakesdikgetsi @badbradgoodson @MzwaneleManyi @Dclantis @Loate11

— Team COPE (@COPE_SA) November 27, 2018

For @MzwaneleManyi to have offered to voluntarily appear at the Commission,display a contemptuous attitude&make spurious assertions but when their the veracity is tested through fair questioning he cries foul is simply an attempt to undermine the Commission @pakesdikgetsi

— Team COPE (@COPE_SA) November 27, 2018

@MzwaneleManyi ‘s evidence and demeanor point to him being a hostile and untruthful witness. His testimony has no credibility – like him. @pakesdikgetsi @Dclantis @badbradgoodson @Loate11 @AndiMakinana

— Team COPE (@COPE_SA) November 27, 2018

@MzwaneleManyi &those of his ilk in the BLF& EFF must know that the majority of law abiding citizens will not tolerate their unbecoming and destructive conduct @pakesdikgetsi #CommissionOfInquiry

— Team COPE (@COPE_SA) November 27, 2018

@MzwaneleManyi must never claim again or pretend to be representing "black excellence" as he usually does. He is the opposite of any professional constituency #CommissionOfInquiry @pakesdikgetsi @badbradgoodson

— Team COPE (@COPE_SA) November 27, 2018

@COPE_SA strongly condemns @MzwaneleManyi and conduct that attempts to undermine, impugn or bring into disrepute the integrity of the Commission ad its officials @pakesdikgetsi @badbradgoodson @Dclantis

Issued by Congress of the People (COPE)

— Team COPE (@COPE_SA) November 27, 2018

Manyi was back in the hot seat at the commission of inquiry into state capture on both Monday and Tuesday.

His testimony was marked, among other things, by his assertion that there had been a lack of evidence at the inquiry which had led him to “struggling” to connect the controversial Gupta family to state capture.

“People we have heard here have just been poetic. I am struggling to convict people based on poetry,” he said.

He also asked for advocate Vincent Maleka to be recused as evidence leader, only to later withdraw this request.

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