North West government officials approached Bosasa for electioneering funds – Agrizzi
At a meeting with these two officials, it was discussed that Bosasa would provide the department with software.
Former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi continues with his testimony at the Raymond Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture on January 23, 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Testifying for the 7th day, Agrizzi claimed that Bosasa had access to confidential documents belonging to the NPA and the Hawks with the aid of Nomgcobo Jiba and Lawrence Mrwebi, who kept officials informed regarding the progress of a corruption investigation into the facilities company. (Photo by Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Felix Dlangamandla)
Former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi told the commission of inquiry into state capture on Thursday that two officials from the North West department of social development requested “electioneering” money from the controversial company.
The funds were sourced through the transfer of “items of no value” to the provincial department at a cost of R4.5 million.
These items included software, which Bosasa already made use of, for rendering services to the department.
Agrizzi told the commission that Syvion Dlamini introduced him to two officials from the department, one named Matshidiso Mogale, the former head of the department of social development in North West in Mahikeng.
Dlamini approached Agrizzi with Mogale’s CV because the former department head wanted to leave her employ, as investigations were heating up at the department. She sought Agrizzi’s assistance to secure new employment.
Agrizzi said that at the meeting with the two departmental officials, it was discussed that Bosasa would provide the department with software and the proceeds of this contract would be for electioneering purposes.
Approximately half of the R4.5 million would be kept by the two officials while the balance would be pocketed by Bosasa.
Agrizzi said Bosasa had been awarded a contract to manage a youth centre in the province, where children awaiting trial were detained at a cost of R450 to R700 per child per day for all services, which included making use of a computer programme which was compulsory in the running and management of the facility.
He further testified that the use of the computer programme had been included in the pricing of the contract that Bosasa had with the department.
Following the request for electioneering funds, Dlamini raised invoices for a computer programme for R4.5 million, Agrizzi said, and “no one could prove the software was never delivered because it was already there”.
The software was sold to the department and the money was paid out, Agrizzi said.
Another method used to raise funds was through the company of Bosasa former auditor Peet Venter.
Venter told the commission on Wednesday that he made use of a dormant company belonging to his relative – Miotto – to make certain payments on behalf of Bosasa CEO Gavin Watson.
ALSO READ: Former Bosasa auditor was allegedly instructed to inflate invoices to get commissions
Miotto raised fictitious invoices for an amount between R1.3 million and R1.4 million for training, even though the company had two employees, Venter and his sister, Agrizzi said.
The amount was paid out even though there was never any training.
“It was all fictitious stuff but that was how Syvion and Gavin Watson had decided to move the funding,” Agrizzi told the commission.
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