When Mokonyane spoke, we jumped – Bosasa’s Frans Vorster
The former employee says the company hired a vehicle for her daughter over two months in December 2015 and January 2016.
Nomvula Mokonyane. Picture: Nigel Sibanda
A former employee of the controversial facilities management company Bosasa, Frans Vorster, has told the commission of inquiry into state capture on Wednesday that the company hired an Audi A3 for the daughter of now Environmental Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane.
Vorster says he called the owner Blade Travel and asked him to get him a cabriolet for Nomvula Mokonyane. They could not get it. They eventually manged to get her Audi A3 from Bidvest. #StateCaptureInquiry
— State Capture Commission (@StateCaptureCom) January 30, 2019
Vorster said the company did this in December 2015 after the minister requested a cabriolet.
Vorster says towards the end of Dec 2015 Mokonyane asked to extend the rental to Mid Jan 2016 and later to end of January. The extension was done through the permission of Mr Watson. #StateCaptureInquiry
— State Capture Commission (@StateCaptureCom) January 30, 2019
The vehicle was hired for two months between December 2015 and January 2016.
Vorster says he asked Richard Le roux to accompany him the dealership. Le roux drove the car to Mokonyane's house. The car was booked for the month of December 2015. #StateCaptureInquiry
— State Capture Commission (@StateCaptureCom) January 30, 2019
Vorster said this was not the first time the company had hired the vehicle for the minister’s daughter.
Vorster says towards the end of Dec 2015 Mokonyane asked to extend the rental to Mid Jan 2016 and later to end of January. The extension was done through the permission of Mr Watson. #StateCaptureInquiry
— State Capture Commission (@StateCaptureCom) January 30, 2019
He said whenever vehicles were hired for Mokonyane it would be ensured that the hired vehicle could not be linked to the minister’s daughter.
Vorster says when they eventually collected the car, it was bumped at the back. Vorster had to take responsibility of the damage as he was listed as the main driver. #StateCaptureInquiry
— State Capture Commission (@StateCaptureCom) January 30, 2019
He claimed this was done for the minister because he believed Mokonyane had a lot of influence and could “open a lot for doors” for the company’s CEO, Gavin Watson.
Vorster says this created a big problem for him as the company had to pay for rental and the damages. He says Watson called him angry at him for reporting the matter to Agrizzi. He says he had get to Agrizzi or Van Tonder to sign off for that vehicle. #StateCaptureInquiry
— State Capture Commission (@StateCaptureCom) January 30, 2019
He said whenever Mokonyane had to be attended to everybody “had to jump”.
Vorster was informed that he had to drop everything if the minister wanted something because she had influence with previous presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma.
“Gavin Watson [told me that]. It was not a secret, sir, among us seniors,” Vorster told the commission.
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