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The then Minister of Mineral Resources, Mosebenzi Zwane, addresses the media during the release of the 2016 health and safety statistics in the mining sector on January 19, 2017 in Randfontein, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sowetan / Veli Nhlapo)
Mosebenzi Zwane implicated Free State housing officials in breaking the law and, within moments, pointed his index finger as he laid blame during his testimony at the Zondo Commission on Friday. Zwane faces a large number of accusations issued during investigative sessions over the past two years.
“I took it in good spirits,” ANC deputy Mosebenzi Zwane told the chairman of the State Capture Investigation, Supreme Court Vice President Raymond Zondo.
Hours earlier, when Zwane raised his right hand on the morning of Friday, September 25, 2020, he promised to tell the whole truth in the investigation.
The raised hand was one of Zwane’s many gestures during the day.
Point the finger, switch the blame
He implicated Free State housing officials in breaking the law and, within moments, pointed his index finger while blaming.
Zwane faces a large number of accusations issued during investigative sessions over the past two years.
In question: your role in a Rand 1 billion housing plan in the Free State, the Peace Dairy Project in the same province, and Acquisition of Optimum by Tegeta Coal mining.
Friday’s session focused exclusively on the R1 billion 2010-2011 housing plan, which lined the pockets of contractors favored by politicians. Contractors did not comply.
Zwane is accused of hatching the blatant scheme in October 2010 and forcing officials to break the law.
Live to serve
“My role is to meet the needs of the majority of the people and serve,” he said. Apparently, such a service excludes significant liability.
Earlier this week, the current Head of Human Settlements Department (HOD), Nthimotse Mokhesi, reported a whopping R631 million wasted in the housing scheme.
The Department of Human Settlements was unable to anything in return, he said.
Mokhesi appeared to be a shy witness, who was evasive on one key point. You wouldn’t be drawn to who planned the project, which predates your appointment.
The head of the legal team and advocate for test leader Paul Pretorius SC told Mokhesi that “the details at the highest levels were done by the MEC” Zwane.
“But it seems that as far as our investigations have gone, neither Mr. Zwane, Mr. Mmuso Tsoametsi, nor Mr. Mokoena were not held accountable in any way. It is not weird? Pretorius said.
“No, I appreciate and understand Mr. Pretorius’s concern,” Mokhesi replied.
Zondo asked, “Do you find it strange or not strange?
The witness conceded: “Well, yes.”
Zondo continued: “At some point, did you feel that then-MEC Mr. Zwane could have played a role in this whole project that was not appropriate, not acceptable, or is it something that you did not think happened?
“Uh … President …”
Mokhesi ventured a warning laden response.
“With all the particular things that were said there, if in fact it happened, I am not saying that it happened, if in fact it happened, it could be concluded that there was a transfer by … by …, by … the MEC, if this happened. So that’s my answer to this, if this happened. “
It is possible that Mokhesi’s reservation stems from the culture of fear that characterizes politics in the Free State.
A decade after the billion rand housing plan was developed No one has been arrested, criminally charged and sentenced in connection with the gigantic robbery.
Bolder than Mokhesi was Mpho Mokoena, a former HOD, who accused Zwane of inventing the house plan.
Close for convenience
Mokoena even agreed the former Premier Ace Magashule, who is now secretary general of the ANC, in his remarks.
He alleged that Zwane relayed instructions from then-Prime Minister Ace Magashule. Mokoena claimed that Zwane instructed her to make sure Rochelle Ells got a housing contract in Kroonstad.
It is understood that Ells and Magashule enjoyed a warm personal relationship.
“And when the projects had started to run, when it was time to file the claims, he would come and tell me to expedite the claims because the Prime Minister wants those claims to be sped up,” Mokoena said.
Zwane protected himself from criticism, referring to the rules on the responsibility of an accountant, namely HOD Mokoena, as stipulated in the Public Finance Management Law (PFMA).
“In terms of where I am sitting, I had gathered enough information to lead effectively and do what I was supposed to do,” Zwane said.
However, Zwane acknowledged that he was unfamiliar with further laws and codes that the PFMA relevant to its role as MEC of Human Settlements.
“Would I be wrong, President, in assuming that it was sufficiently covered by the PFMA?” I ask.
He rejected any significant involvement or knowledge of the plan. Instead, Zwane pointed the finger at housing officials (including Mokoena and later CFO Seipati Dlamini).
Then they tell us
Zwane insisted that he acted in good faith on the bad advice of those around him. “The money was meant to benefit the poor, the underprivileged, the homeless in the Free State,” he said.
Zwane’s version includes his (misinformed) understanding that the housing plan was adequate and legal, his heart was in the right place, and officials broke the law without his involvement.
The humble account is at odds with the claims that witnesses have made against Zwane. An official accused Zwane of bullying him in executing the housing plan threatening their livelihood.
Another witness testified his opinion that Zwane sent a “personal force” to intimidate him, after he questioned the legality of the Peace Dairy Project.
During the hearing on Friday, Zwane responded: “As they told me, President.” The chorus describes a stupid politician.
Zwane, who moved from provincial to national politics under former President Jacob Zuma and remains a member of the ANC caucus, It’s not dumb. DM
