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For Praise God 
9h ago
MINERAL Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe told the Zondo Commission late Friday that former Bosasa chief executive Gavin Watson bribed shop stewards at shelters to obtain catering contracts.
Mantashe revealed this when he was testifying in commission while being led by trial leader, defender Viwe Notshe.
He was asked if he knew Watson, whose employee Papa Leshabane promised to pay for the cost of installing security cameras at his three properties in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape.
“I know Gavin. We crossed cables early in my life as a trade unionist when I wanted contracts in the mines and we had to fight when I bribed union officials and I said ‘No, no, we must not agree to this.’
When asked why Watson was bribing them, Mantashe said he was bribing them for catering contracts at the shelters.
“He worked in many shelters. We fought in many of the shelters with him, ”Mantashe said.
Former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi previously testified that Bosasa reached out to certain people deemed influential, such as ministers, and did them favors.
He had told the commission that they did some security installations on Mantashe properties at his Boksburg home and two properties in Cala in the Eastern Cape, including his farm.
But, Mantashe is contesting Agrizzi’s version, saying there were two attempted break-ins on his Boksburg property.
He said he had commissioned his security adviser, Mzonke Nyakaza, to install security cameras, but Leshabane, whom he knew as a friend and family friend, offered to do the installation for free.
Mantashe said that Nyakaza bought the cameras to install on his property and Leshabane arrived and they had discussions
“Papa Leshabane is said to have offered to provide better cameras. The Game cameras were of inferior quality, ”he said.
Mantashe also said that when the Boksburg facility was a success in 2013, they were rolled out to Eastern Cape properties in 2016.
“In Boksburg, we found someone who worked on the property stealing from inside the property. We think we should put cameras on those properties, ”he said.
“We saw the effectiveness of the cameras in Boksburg and we thought we needed them in the Eastern Cape because we are absent owners.”
However, he said that Nyakaza had taken care of the security aspect himself.
“Mzonke Nyakaza was dealing with the security details without getting involved.”
Mantashe insisted that Nyakaza informed him that Leshabane had offered the CCTV security system and assumed the cost of the equipment and installation.
“He accepted on the basis of the good relationship he had with dad.”
Pressed on who paid for the cameras in the Eastern Cape, Mantashe said the security details were handled by Nyakaza.
When asked who made the payments for the Eastern Cape facility, Mantashe was adamant that Nyakaza made arrangements for security at all times.
He told the commission that after reading the affidavits of Agrizzi, the man who installed the Richard le Roux and Leshabane cameras, he detected price inconsistencies.
“Even if Leshabane offers cameras, he would be the person who would know the prices.”
Mantashe also said that he never asked Nyakaza who paid for the Eastern Cape cameras because he handled the details of the security arrangements.
“They informed me based on the need to know.”
When asked if he knew of Leshabane’s position at Bosasa, Mantashe said that he did not know and that it was indifferent to him where he worked.
When Notshe told Mantashe that he knew Bosasa had received government contracts, the minister said that he was not in government at the time of the camera’s installation.
He also said that he knew Bosasa was responsible for the juvenile centers in West Rand.
Mantashe also said that he was not a minister heading a department despite his position as secretary general of the ANC at the time.
Notshe told Mantashe that he knew that Leshabane worked for a company run by someone who tried to bribe the shop stewards.
“Weren’t you worried this was a bribe?” I ask.
In his response, Mantashe said he was not willing to take bribes.
“So I am known for that. I’m known for it now. “
POLITICAL OFFICE
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