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An image of a sick Angelo Agrizzi connected to several machines in an ICU ward and holding a copy of his new revealing book, Inside the belly of the beast is causing a stir on social media. The book, written by Agrizzi, was published virtually on November 2.
The photo, taken by Melinda Ferguson of Truth Be tell Publishing, shows South Africans questioning Agrizzi’s condition.
The former Bosasa COO is famous for his 2019 convicting corruption allegations at the State Capture Investigation Commission, where he implicated Bosasa, ANC leaders, and government officials. In his book, he delves into his accusations, revealing more irregularities, names and dates.
After being rushed to the ICU after suffering a heart attack on October 21, he was placed on life support. Handcuffed to his bed and protected under heavy guard at all times, he is on dialysis and breathes through a ventilator.
The surety was granted in strict terms and he had to pledge his 16 million rand Italian property.
Ferguson spoke with The citizen on how he managed to capture the moment and the reaction he incurred.
“With regard to being allowed to enter the ICU, it is very difficult to enter. I never met Angelo and he had wanted to meet me before so I begged his wife to let me see him …
“I had to speak to the director of the hospital. Because the truth is, it might be the only time you get the chance. Angelo is seriously ill and if he doesn’t make it, he would never have had a chance, ”he said.
Ferguson describes him as “absolutely seriously ill”, even if people don’t believe it.
“I wanted to see him holding his book, which he worked very hard on.
Regarding the image, Ferguson said: “The comments I have read about the machines shut down are ridiculous. What you don’t see in the image is a bank of machines that are all plugged in. “
Melinda Ferguson. Image: supplied
“From the point of view I took, there were probably machines that were not connected because it is not possible to be on 40 machines at the same time. On the other hand, he is on permanent dialysis which he has once a day for hours. I didn’t film that because I didn’t expect people to ask this kind of thing. “
He said he might have underestimated the response he would get from social media.
“I thought I wrote a story that brought people up to date because the public has been wondering what is going on with Agrizzi.
“There’s a herd mentality on Twitter right now and that’s okay too because it sparked a conversation that needs to happen,” Ferguson said.
She admits that she placed the book on her chest.
READ MORE: Agrizzi stable but not ready to leave ICU, says lawyer
“He didn’t ask for that [placing of the book]. He has come so far, he wrote the book and published it. He is a whistleblower and undeniably corrupt [but] people should take it for what it is. I don’t take anything that is said about me personally. “
Speaking about the book, Ferguson said that she wasn’t initially interested, until she actually read it, and was “in awe.”
“The content was incredibly important for South Africans to read and is certainly not a heroification of Agrizzi.”
Ferguson worked with Agrizzi and co-author Phillipa Mitchell, with the goal of not portraying him as a victim, being honest about the dire role he played in his allegations.
“The book is not about him playing a hero, it is a very revealing and forceful investigative memoir where the subject provides information with which the SA public has every right to participate,” said Ferguson.
The book that says it all by Angelo Agrizzi.
“I want to reiterate that corruption has become a serious scourge in South Africa. It has become so ubiquitous that it is the way business is done in South Africa today. What should have been a time when the majority of South Africans reaped the rewards of democracy has been populated by greedy people and I mean the white men of Bosasa, Steinhoff, members of the ANC and others. “
“Our country is in a terrible state because of companies like Bosasa and companies like Gavin Watson [the late Bosasa chief executive] and Agrizzi. We are sitting in a terrible state of poverty where people don’t even have access to the basics like housing and the provision of services. These are the results of the rapes and looting by the Guptas and Bosasas of this country ”.
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