Some of the key moments from the Zondo commission

Mcebisi Jonas

Former deputy finance minister Jonas was among the first key witnesses to take the stand at the commission of inquiry into allegations of state capture in 2018. 

Jonas told the commission how former president Jacob Zuma's son Duduzani facilitated a meeting with one of the Gupta brothers where he was allegedly offered the finance minister's post in October 2015.

He said the offer came from Ajay Gupta as they met at the Gupta family compound in Saxonwold where he was driven by Duduzani. Jonas said ANC member and business-person Fana Hlongwane and Zuma were present at the meeting but did not speak. Duduzani denied this before the commission.

0 of 10

Jacob Zuma

July 15 2019 will likely go down as the biggest day in the history of the commission as millions of South Africans were glued to their televisions to watched former president Zuma takes the seat before judge Raymond Zondo to answer questions on the alleged corruption that was allowed to flourish under his two administrations.  He arrived flanked by his henchmen Des van Rooyen, Carl Niehaus and Supra Mahumapelo.

Zuma, the man at the centre of the state capture phenomenon, showed no sign of flinching from the onset.  “I have been a subject of talk in this country for more than a decade. I’ve been vilified, alleged to be the king of corrupt people. First, because I believe it is important that we all respect one another, that we must say things we know about other people, not just tell things that we cannot prove,” he told Zondo.

However, his weeklong testimony was mostly a damp squib as he could not remember some of the key events mentioned in previous testimonies where he was accused of sharing sensitive state information with the Guptas as alleged by former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor. He also could not remember the Guptas being present at any official state visits.

Vytjie Mentor

The former ANC MP’s 2018 testimony about her visit to the Gupta Saxonwold compound in Johannesburg  in 2010, where they allegedly offered her a cabinet position, was one of the bombshells at the commission.  However, holes were poked in her testimony as advocate Mahlape Sello said neither Mango Airlines, British Airways nor SAA had records to prove that she flew from Cape Town to Johannesburg during that period.

Yakhe Kwinana

Former SAA board member and ex-SAA Technical board chairperson Yakhe Kwinana told the state capture inquiry last year that there was nothing wrong with her and executives being wined and dined by a US company bidding for a tender at the national carrier. Kwinana turned the commission’s venue into a baking class as she sweated on the hot seat trying to explain the reasoning behind the decision by the SAA board to withdraw a multimillion-rand contract awarded to LSG Sky Chefs in favour of SAA subsidiary AirChefs to provide catering at SAA lounges.

She said the deal was similar to a parent buying vetkoeks from a neighbour while their child also sells them.

“If my daughter is selling fat cakes here at home, why would I go and buy fat cakes next door? I would not go next door and buy fat cakes and leave my child’s fat cake here. Even if I had a challenge with them, I would say reduce the baking powder and add this and this and this so that it could be to the customer’s satisfaction,” justified Kwinana to the amazement of judge Zondo.

Vuyo Ndzeku

Questions into allegations of being the masterminded behind the corrupt payments, including to SAA head of procurement Lester Peter, left Vuyo Ndzeku, the former director of JM Aviation SA, with a sudden bout of  amnesia which made him forget his wedding date. The commission’s evidence leader advocate Kate Hofmeyr would later corner him about the R2.5m he had paid himself.

“I put it to you that it was paid to you, Mr Ndzeku,” charged Hofmeyr.

Ndzeku replied: “That’s good, I am happy. What was that money for?”

Lucky Montana

Controversial former Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) boss Lucky Montana stunned the commission when he accused the ANC and President Cyril Ramaphosa of failing to be open about the extent of the party’s active role in aiding corruption in state-owned entities (SOEs). He said the SOE used public funds to bankroll ANC activities and created an environment for corruption. Montana has always been viewed as an ally of former president Zuma and the Gupta family.

“The ANC would give me a list of suppliers that the ANC owed and say ‘we think you must assist us in this way’,” Montana said.

Angelo Agrizzi

Former Bosasa executive Agrizzi, who appeared before the commission on a number of occasions, made explosive revelations, including how the corruption-accused company had many ANC politicians and government officials on its payroll.

When appearing before the commission in January 2019 he detailed how the controversial prisons services company allegedly recruited senior ANC MPs, including Vincent Smith, to do its bidding.

Agrizzi said that Smith, along with two other members of parliament’s portfolio committee on correctional services, were allegedly paid a monthly stipend to manage Bosasa’s reputation within government.

Agrizzi detailed how National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) documents relating to a Bosasa investigation were allegedly leaked by former SAA chair Dudu Myeni when she met with Bosasa CEO Gavin Watson at the Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria. 

Agrizzi also implicated  Myeni and former minister of water and sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane, claiming they had been showered with gifts by Bosasa. He revealed that the company had paid for security upgrades at the homes of mineral resources minister Gwede Mantashe.

Nomvula Mokonyane

Mokonyane, who appeared before the commission in September last yea,r said she had “forgotten” her surprise 40th birthday party, which was allegedly paid for by Bosasa.

Mokonyane, who admitted to having attended several events and parties at the Victorian Guest House, had disputed during her initial testimony that any of her birthday celebrations were held at the guest house.

Agrizzi had told the commission that Bosasa CEO Watson had ordered that Mokonyane's birthday party be organised and be paid for by the company, which made millions from dodgy government contracts.

Lulama Mokhobo

Former SABC CEO Lulama Mokhobo told the commission last year how Hlaudi Motsoeneng had boasted about his proximity to former president Jacob Zuma to bully executives and the board at the public broadcaster. 

Mokhobo said it was for this reason that Motsoeneng unilaterally signed a deal with MultiChoice in 2013 which robbed the SABC of hundreds of millions of rand in potential revenue.

The former CEO said Motsoeneng flexed his muscles to the point of telling people that he frequently visited Zuma and would sometimes only leave at 2am.

Brian Molefe

Former Transnet chief executive and Eskom boss Brian Molefe was one of the few people who showed not regret about their his close relations with the controversial Guptas despite the evidence implicating them in the looting in state-owned entities he had led.

“I don’t know that they played me. Maybe they did. Maybe they did not, but what I definitely feel is that there have been suggestions that I did things that are wrong and there has not been evidence to show what it is that I did wrong. I have no regrets that I knew the Guptas, that I had gone to the house and had spoken to them over the phone,” he said.

Molefe said he’ only regret his relationship with the family once there is conclusive evidence proving their illegal activities.

Malusi Gigaba

Former finance minister Malusi Gigaba was probably close at suffering a heart attacked as he watched his estranged wife Norma Mngoma disclosing his dealings with the Gupta. According to Mngoma, the couple would regularly visit the Saxonwold compound where Gigaba would be spoiled to gifts such as luxury cars, jewellery and bring home bags full of money. She also told the commission how Gigaba was told by Ajay Gupta he would be made public enterprises minister months before the appointment was made.

In his testimony recently, Gigaba conceded that he visited the family, but had not business dealings with them.

“I had no reason to visit them for dealings. I am not a businessman, and I've never been a businessman. Even now, I work for the African National Congress, I am not a businessman. So, I had no need to discuss business with anyone,” he told Zondo.