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The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
Zondo calls for criminal investigation into Mantashe as he disputes State Capture Report
Tensions have escalated between Former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo and ANC heavyweight Gwede Mantashe over the findings of the State Capture Inquiry, with Zondo defending his call for a criminal investigation into Mantashe, while the minister disputes the report's conclusions. In March 2022, the Zondo Commission released its third report, which implicated Mantashe in alleged corrupt dealings with the controversial state contractor Bosasa. The report stated that Bosasa installed security upgrades at Mantashe's properties while he served as ANC secretary-general. Zondo concluded that there was a "reasonable prospect" of uncovering a prima facie case against Mantashe for corruption and referred the matter for further investigation. Mantashe has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he did not solicit or accept bribes. He has also indicated his intention to challenge the findings through a judicial review. In response to Zondo's referral, Mantashe criticised the Chief Justice, stating that Zondo "thinks he owns and manages the state capture report." He further remarked that Zondo should allow the relevant authorities to handle the matter instead of making it about himself. Chief Justice Zondo has defended his actions, emphasising that the referral was based on the evidence presented during the commission's proceedings. He maintains that the referral was made under the commission's mandate to investigate and report on instances of state capture. Zondo has reiterated that the findings were not personal but were grounded in the commission's objective analysis. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has stated that it will review the findings of the State Capture Inquiry and determine whether criminal investigations are warranted. NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhanga noted that the commission did not conduct criminal investigations and that the NPA would assess the information provided to decide on the appropriate course of action.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Zondo calls for criminal investigation into Mantashe as he disputes State Capture Report
Gwede Mantashe has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he did not solicit or accept bribes. Tensions have escalated between Former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo and ANC heavyweight Gwede Mantashe over the findings of the State Capture Inquiry, with Zondo defending his call for a criminal investigation into Mantashe, while the minister disputes the report's conclusions. In March 2022, the Zondo Commission released its third report, which implicated Mantashe in alleged corrupt dealings with the controversial state contractor Bosasa. The report stated that Bosasa installed security upgrades at Mantashe's properties while he served as ANC secretary-general. Zondo concluded that there was a "reasonable prospect" of uncovering a prima facie case against Mantashe for corruption and referred the matter for further investigation. Mantashe has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he did not solicit or accept bribes. He has also indicated his intention to challenge the findings through a judicial review. In response to Zondo's referral, Mantashe criticised the Chief Justice, stating that Zondo "thinks he owns and manages the state capture report." He further remarked that Zondo should allow the relevant authorities to handle the matter instead of making it about himself. Chief Justice Zondo has defended his actions, emphasising that the referral was based on the evidence presented during the commission's proceedings. He maintains that the referral was made under the commission's mandate to investigate and report on instances of state capture. Zondo has reiterated that the findings were not personal but were grounded in the commission's objective analysis. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has stated that it will review the findings of the State Capture Inquiry and determine whether criminal investigations are warranted. NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhanga noted that the commission did not conduct criminal investigations and that the NPA would assess the information provided to decide on the appropriate course of action.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Zondo calls for criminal investigation into Mantashe as he disputes State Capture Report
Gwede Mantashe has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he did not solicit or accept bribes. Tensions have escalated between Former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo and ANC heavyweight Gwede Mantashe over the findings of the State Capture Inquiry, with Zondo defending his call for a criminal investigation into Mantashe, while the minister disputes the report's conclusions. In March 2022, the Zondo Commission released its third report, which implicated Mantashe in alleged corrupt dealings with the controversial state contractor Bosasa. The report stated that Bosasa installed security upgrades at Mantashe's properties while he served as ANC secretary-general. Zondo concluded that there was a "reasonable prospect" of uncovering a prima facie case against Mantashe for corruption and referred the matter for further investigation. Mantashe has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he did not solicit or accept bribes. He has also indicated his intention to challenge the findings through a judicial review. In response to Zondo's referral, Mantashe criticised the Chief Justice, stating that Zondo "thinks he owns and manages the state capture report." He further remarked that Zondo should allow the relevant authorities to handle the matter instead of making it about himself. Chief Justice Zondo has defended his actions, emphasising that the referral was based on the evidence presented during the commission's proceedings. He maintains that the referral was made under the commission's mandate to investigate and report on instances of state capture. Zondo has reiterated that the findings were not personal but were grounded in the commission's objective analysis. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has stated that it will review the findings of the State Capture Inquiry and determine whether criminal investigations are warranted. NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhanga noted that the commission did not conduct criminal investigations and that the NPA would assess the information provided to decide on the appropriate course of action.
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Desmond Nair seeks dismissal of corruption charges, citing trial delays
Suspended Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair will launch an application for charges to be dropped as he will argue there is an unreasonable delay in getting his corruption trial underway Image: File Suspended Pretoria Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair will on August 4 launch an application before the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court for the case to be dropped against him, as he will argue that there has been an unreasonable delay in the start of his trial. Nair, who has been facing corruption charges since 2022, once again appeared in court this week, but his case could not resume as the magistrate was unavailable. The trial is still due to get off the ground, following numerous postponements in the matter. Nair is facing corruption charges for allegedly receiving kickbacks worth R200,000 in security upgrades to his property from Bosasa. The court last year turned down an application by him to have charges withdrawn. The application was launched following arguments by his lawyer that there was not sufficient evidence against him to conduct the criminal trial. It is alleged in the charge sheet that in September 2016, Nair, being a judicial officer at the time, accepted an offer from African Global Operations/Global Technology Systems (formerly known as Bosasa) to have an electric fence, an alarm system, perimeter beams, and a CCTV system installed at his home. It is alleged that he was granted the upgrades for his influence to act in a dishonest or improper manner. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Nair, who was suspended as a magistrate in 2020, earlier denied benefiting from Bosasa-sponsored security upgrades to his home. He earlier appeared before the Zondo commission after he was allegedly implicated in evidence provided in January 2019. Former Bosasa IT specialist Richard le Roux claimed at the time that he had been instructed by former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi to oversee security installations at Nair's Pretoria home. Le Roux said the installations cost R250,000 and included an electric fence, camera system, and alarm beams. Nair, at the time, faced questions regarding security installations. He admitted to receiving security upgrades but disputed Bosasa and Le Roux's involvement and the cost of the project. He claimed that he had an oral agreement with a man identified only as Mr Bejoo to install a basic camera system and repair the existing electric fence, alarm system, and beams for a maximum agreed price of R50,000. Nair, who was previously also appointed as an acting judge in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, is out on warning.
News24
2 days ago
- Politics
- News24
Zondo defends call for criminal investigation as Mantashe disputes state capture report
Zondo defends the commission's recommendations for criminal investigation against Mantashe. Mantashe challenged the findings regarding the Bosasa security installations. Zondo cites that the commission recommended an investigation and did not conclude that Mantashe was guilty. Former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has backed a call for a criminal investigation into Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, based on the state capture commission's findings. Zondo, whose tenure at the Constitutional Court ended last year, deposed an affidavit at the Johannesburg High Court on 16 May, responding to claims made by Mantashe in his review application, citing that the commission acted beyond its mandate by suggesting that he should be subject to a criminal investigation. In the affidavit, Zondo is adamant that there was nothing untoward in the findings against Mantashe, citing that the commission merely made a recommendation to law enforcement authorities. 'The commission did not find that the applicant (Gwede Mantashe) was guilty of corruption or even that there was a prima facie case of corruption against him. It found merely that there is a reasonable prospect that a further investigation will uncover a prima facie case against Mr Mantashe,' read the papers. Zondo further argues that it is surprising that Mantashe does not express the notion that the findings subject him to harm. Mantashe does not contend that the finding has done him any harm. Any reasonable reader will understand that in the impugned part of the report, the commission only went as far as to raise a question for further investigation. His response to the commission's finding and recommendation should have been that he would await the outcome of such further investigation as may be undertaken by the law enforcement agencies.' Raymond Zondo In July 2022, City Press reported that Mantashe embarked on a legal bid to set aside damning corruption allegations contained in the state capture report. The commission extensively recommended that he be criminally investigated by police for accepting Bosasa's installation of security systems. Mantashe argues that this was beyond the scope of the commission, as it was acting outside its terms of reference in probing corruption which took place in public office. In his affidavit, Mantashe disputes the evidence given to the commission by former Bosasa chief operations officer Angelo Agrizzi, citing that he had never met him in his life and that his evidence to the commission was 'completely untrue.' Agrizzi had told the commission that Bosasa had sponsored security upgrades at Mantashe's home in the Eastern Cape. However, Zondo said in court papers that the commission properly dealt with evidence given by Bosasa. 'The commission concluded that the evidence overwhelmingly established that Bosasa, its leadership, employees, and associates were able to again illicit control over the procurement process of departments and organs of the state through systematic and aggressive targeting of public officials with offers of gratification in the form of bribes and a range of other material benefits,' read the papers. He also said that Bosasa's evidence implicated former president Jacob Zuma in alleged wrongdoing. 'Bosasa sought out officials across different levels of seniority within the state, ranging from former president Zuma at one end of the spectrum to municipal officials and employees of state-owned entities at the other end,' read the papers.
