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Vice President of the Supreme Court Raymond Zondo
- Former minister Nomvula Mokonyane’s long-time aide testified that the food Bosasa bought was for community projects.
- Sandy Thomas said the groceries were delivered to Mokonyane’s home, but then packaged and delivered.
- Thomas also testified that she did not know if the minister ever received gifts from Bosasa.
The groceries bought by Bosasa and delivered to the home of former minister Nomvula Mokonyane were not for the minister, but for people in need.
This was according to Mokonyane’s personal assistant, Sandy Thomas, who testified before the state’s arrest investigation on Monday.
Thomas’ affidavit before the commission addressed allegations by former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi that the company bought groceries for Mokonyane.
Agrizzi listed some of the items, which included meat and liquor.
Thomas said the large-scale groceries could not have been for family consumption and could not have been accommodated at home. She said that the groceries were meant to feed the needy in Kagiso.
READ | Agrizzi is ‘full of hatred’, Mokonyane tells Zondo the investigation while denying receiving cash and gifts from Bosasa
“I clearly remember cases where I corresponded with people, including Mr. Agrizzi, regarding large-scale groceries for community projects for the elderly in Kagiso,” said Thomas’s affidavit.
Thomas agreed with Supreme Court Vice President Raymond Zondo’s interpretation of his affidavit that Bosasa bought groceries, but that they were for the needy.
Thomas said it was an annual occurrence and that it usually happened during the holiday period.
He recalled that, on one occasion, they also organized this type of community project for Mokonyane’s birthday.
However, he was unable to confirm whether Mokonyane was present at the delivery of the food packages.
Thomas added that food for these projects was always left at Mokonyane’s house because it was the safest place to store before it was delivered to the community.
Said it was stored in the garage.
READ | Bosasa’s ‘special projects’ were extended to ministers, a magistrate, says witness
According to Thomas, there were times when Mokonyane didn’t even know about the delivery of the groceries, saying that she and Bosasa’s boss, Gavin Watson, would discuss the details.
In addition, he testified that it was not always Bosasa who paid for the groceries.
Presents
Early Monday, Thomas stated that he had known Watson on the phone for a long time, but had only spoken to Agrizzi “once or twice.”
The only time she remembered speaking to the former COO was when he contacted her, but she was ill at the time, so she referred him to a colleague. She didn’t know what she wanted.
He later testified that when he said he had spoken to Agrizzi once or twice, it could have been more.
Thomas testified that Agrizzi would call her, but that she couldn’t remember why.
Thomas was also questioned about gifts he may have received from Bosasa, as well as gifts that may have been sent to Mokonyane for his birthday.
He confirmed receiving a “recovery” basket from Agrizzi in 2014.
READ | Mokonyane’s birthday party: Bosasa spent cash for 174 guests, guesthouse owner confirms to Zondo
But she could not confirm that she and Mokonyane received “women’s baskets” worth R1 500 each for their one-year birthdays, which were in the same month.
In his basket, he said that he would have been at work and would not have signed for the basket, which he did not recall receiving.
However, he did not deny that he may have received a basket, in addition to Bosasa’s welfare gift, but instead maintained that he could not remember.
Upon receiving gifts from Mokonyane, Thomas admitted that she would be called and asked what kind of gift the minister would like, but never asked if Mokonyane received the gift.
“Those are surprises, I can’t spoil the surprise,” Thomas said when asked if Mokonyane had received a gift from Watson or Agrizzi.
Thomas also told the commission that she had never attended a meeting with the minister, Watson and Agrizzi at the Mokonyane home.
