[ad_1]
Former Minister Nomvula Mokonyane at a previous state capture hearing.
Luba Lesolle, Gallo Images
- Nomvula Mokonyane, who is before the state capture commission, answered questions about whether he was gifted an Aston Martin for his 50th birthday, after questions arose about how he paid a R2.2 million deposit for the luxury car.
- He has been testifying before the Vice President of the Supreme Court, Raymond Zondo.
- Former minister he was giving testimony related to Bosasa.
Former environmental affairs minister Nomvula Mokonyane reportedly received an Aston Martin worth R3 million on her 50th birthday.
Mokonyane, who was testifying before the Zondo commission on Thursday, was asked how he managed to pay around R2.2 million as a deposit for the vehicle. She was the Premier of Gauteng at the time.
The former minister told the president of the investigation, Supreme Court Vice President Raymond Zondo, that she and her husband agreed on what she should receive for her birthday. And because her husband was seeking a contract with the Eskom power company, Thaba Mufamadi, who said he was a friend of the family, “made a contribution” for the vehicle.
The news about Mokonyane’s luxury vehicle was first revealed by private contractor Charl Le Roux, who said he visited the former minister’s home on several occasions to carry out some repair work.
He said that when he entered the premises he saw the Aston Martin.
READ | Mokonyane: The guesthouse celebration was a ‘dinner’, not a ‘party’
Regarding her husband’s business, Mokonyane said he had people who “were actually advising and supporting him and these were the people who were advising him and they could see that things were going well; that this is going to be a good business and it is a good chance to grow. “
“My husband made an arrangement with friends who are not doing business with the government.”
Mokonyane claimed that Mufamadi would get her money back once her husband’s business grew.
READ | Businesses also played a role in seizing the state, says NPA
“We will have to pay him. If this goes nowhere, which I think would be so unfair, it would be so unfair because you could see how he (her husband) was let down on the offer at Eskom,” she said.
She said she also contributed between R800,000 and R900,000 for the vehicle. Earlier Thursday, Mokonyane also confirmed to the commission that there was indeed a 40th birthday “dinner” at a guest house in Krugersdorp, but denied it was a party.
Confirm
“I can confirm that as I said in my earlier testimony here that there have been several parties at that location and various gatherings and by reading Mr. (Frederick Hendrik) Coetzee’s statement, I can confirm that I went to a private dinner and not the party birthday of breaking the leg that Mr. (Angelo) Agrizzi said “.
“I can confirm that there was a dinner. It was not a party as Mr. Agrizzi said. It was a surprise what happened in the place,” he said.
She told Zondo that she didn’t know who paid for her birthday dinner. Coetzee was the owner of the Victorian Guesthouse in Krugersdorp.
Meeting
When he appeared before Zondo, he said before the function, Agrizzi requested a meeting to ask about the organization of a function and also mentioned that it would be for the then MEC of Security and Surveillance in Gauteng and that Bosasa would pay for it.
The businessman also told Zondo that it was the first high-profile government function organized by the guesthouse. He said they initially expected to serve 80 guests. And then the number increased to 120. However, on the day of the performance, the number increased to 174.
During his testimony Thursday, Mokonyane described the dinner as a “sitting arrangement.”
READ | Zuma will not appear in the September state capture investigation
She added: “My claim was about breaking my leg, 50th party I never had. My 50th party was about the trip of a lifetime.”
When asked about the number of people who attended the party, Mokonyane said, “I think there is a bit of confusion and hype in their performances.”
Early last year, Agrizzi alleged that Mokonyane received cash payments from Bosasa. He said the company also paid for maintenance on his home, including a landscaping service, electric fence repairs and installation of a new camera system.
She alleged that the former minister received R50,000 per month in cash from Bosasa and that she had received gifts, including meat and expensive alcohol, for her family.
However, Mokonyane, during his first appearance, repeatedly said that the accusations made against him by Agrizzi were extremely defamatory and full of contradictions.
