Investigator testifies about Bosasa’s security upgrades for Mantashe, Mti
The investigator says a witness at the commission could identify the installations at the various properties.
Ex-Bosasa employee Richard le Roux looks at his files on the witness stand at the Zondo Commission before the start of the second session. Picture: Karen Sandison/African News Agency(ANA)
The investigator of the commission of inquiry into state capture Patrick Mlambo gave testimony on Monday on his site visits to confirm security installations allegedly done by Bosasa at the properties of high ranking officials.
In January, Richard le Roux, an employee of a Bosasa subsidiary, GTS (formerly known as Sondolo IT), told the commission of the company’s special projects team which did maintenance work and security upgrades at the properties of a number of high profile figures, including ministers and government officials.
READ MORE: Bosasa gave Mokonyane, Myeni, Mantashe and more home makeovers
Following Le Roux’s testimony, Mlambo was tasked with verifying these installations which he did by visiting the premises.
Mlambo’s testimony on Monday was about the premises he had visited in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
On these site visits, Mlambo was accompanied by Le Roux, who despite not knowing the exact street addresses, knew exactly where to go in each area.
The properties in the Eastern Cape are associated with Minister of Mineral Resources Gwede Mantashe and former prisons boss Linda Mti, while the property in KZN is associated with former SAA board chair Dudu Myeni.
The first inspection Mlambo, accompanied by Le Roux, conducted was on February 17 at a property in Colchester, Eastern Cape, which is associated with Mti.
Le Roux told the commission that the Bosasa special team had installed an electric fence, LED perimeter lights and an energizer inside the garage, which he identified to Mlambo ahead of their arrival at the site.
At the property, Le Roux informed Mlambo that the electric fence and LED perimeter lights resembled those the Bosasa special team had installed, Mlambo said.
The property was locked and no one present on the day of the inspection, thus Mlambo could not verify the energizer in the garage.
Mlambo’s investigation after the inspection revealed that the property solely belongs to Mti.
On February 18, Mlambo and Le Roux visited a second property associated with Mti, which is located in Greenbushes, Eastern Cape, where the Bosasa special team allegedly installed an electric fence, LED perimeter lights and an energizer in the garage.
Mlambo said when he contacted Mti, who according to a neighbour they met there was out, Mti “was a bit upset” for not being notified about the investigation but he cooperated.
Mlambo also gave evidence on his inspection at Mantashe’s property in Elliot where Le Roux said the team installed an IP camera system.
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