Angelo Agrizzi, the former COO of controversial facilities management company Bosasa, now trading as African Global Operations (AGO), returned to the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture on Thursday, where his second round of testimony began.
Agrizzi began by saying he was aware of threats to his safety but was willing to continue with his evidence. The commission’s evidence leader, advocate Paul Pretorius, added that Agrizzi’s security had been upgraded following these threats.
Agrizzi went into detail on the “vault” at Bosasa, saying every week bulk deliveries of cash ranging from R2.6 million to R3 million were delivered to this vault.
He would check it, after which former CFO Andries van Tonder checked it. The cash would then be taken to the main vault and according to Agrizzi “it would sometimes be counted and sometimes it wouldn’t be counted”.
He also said one ton of chicken would be ordered by the company weekly.
READ MORE: One ton of chicken equalled R1m in Bosasa scheme – former CFO
According to Agrizzi, the minimum amount kept in the vault at all times was R2 million, in R100 or R200 notes. He further stated that this was, at some points, raised to R6.5 million.
He added that during the December period, the amount of money in the vault may have been higher because of the “bonuses” the company would pay “directors” over the holiday season.
Director’s bonuses were paid in cash over December, normally in amounts of around R2oo,000 to R300,000. These were always paid in cash “because it was a tax duck”, according to Agrizzi.
Van Tonder had previously testified about the chicken deliveries at the commission, saying that from time to time there was an instruction to utilise wholesalers by invoicing for goods not delivered to Bosasa in order to generate the bribe money.
READ MORE: Agrizzi names journalists allegedly bribed by Bosasa
