live
Share

AS IT HAPPENED: #StateCaptureInquiry hears further Transnet-related testimony from SA Reserve Bank official

accreditation
Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo presiding over the commission of inquiry into state capture. (Gulshan Khan/AFP)
Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo presiding over the commission of inquiry into state capture. (Gulshan Khan/AFP)

WATCH LIVE: State Capture Inquiry 

(Courtesy of SABC) 

Last Updated
Live News Feed
Go to start

07 Jun 2019

Mazibuko will continue his testimony on Monday.

07 Jun 2019

When no response was received from Homix, a notice order and forfeiture was published in the government gazette and the amount of around R14m was forfeited to the State.

Homix never challenged the forfeiture.

07 Jun 2019

Incorrect statements were made in declaration to transfer of monies, false or incorrect statements were provided to a dealer to purchase foreign currencies, are some of the topics Mazibuko says wanted answers from Homix on.

07 Jun 2019

Director of Homix was invited to a meeting to explain the alleged contraventions of the provisions of the exchange control regulations.

The letter invites the director to a meeting where dubious payments, transfer of foreign currencies without permission by the treasury and money laundering would be discussed.

Homix never responded to the letter.

07 Jun 2019

Documents were falsified and there was trade base money laundering by Homix, Mazibuko says.

07 Jun 2019

Mazibuko is currently running through a list of transactions and payments from his evidence submitted to the commission.


07 Jun 2019

Mazibuko says banks "are the first line of defence, but they need to be vigilant. If they sleep, the money escapes."

07 Jun 2019

Mazibuko now tells the commission how exchange control violations are reported, investigated and dealt with. He earlier explained that the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) works very closely with SARS, and operates without fear or favour.


07 Jun 2019

Mazibuko explains that not using foreign currency for the purpose that it was applied for (travelling, buying foreign goods, etc), is a contravention of exchange controls.

07 Jun 2019

Mazibuko explains the purpose of exchange controls, mentions the 2008 "financial crisis" and the lessons that were learnt from that. 

"The Minister of Finance is the custodian of the exchange control policy, we act in the advisory capacity because we deal with the market and all that, but all policy issues are taken by the Minister of Finance," says Mazibuko. 

Mazibuko further details the regulations of exchange controls. 

07 Jun 2019

'I felt my life was at risk' says ex-treasurer on resignation from 'toxic' Transnet

Transnet's former group treasurer has testified that she resigned from the state-owned company in 2014, after the environment became too toxic for her to handle and she started to fear for her safety.

"I felt my life was at risk. I have four young kids, I am not going to play superwoman," she told the commission. 

The commission has been investigating allegations of state capture, corruption and fraud since August 2018. 

Mathane Makgatho, continuing her testimony on Friday, told the commission how she time and again tried to convince then-Transnet CEO Brian Molefe against involving Gupta-linked advisory firm Regiments in organising a $2.5bn loan from the China Development Bank.

READ FULL STORY

07 Jun 2019

Mazibuko confirms he is currently employed at the SA Reserve Bank as the head of the financial surveillance department. "I'm responsible for heading the department that is responsible for implementing and administering exchange controls on behalf of the Minister of Finance," says Mazibuko.

07 Jun 2019

Back from the break, evidence leader Advocate Mokoena finishes his preamble, contextualising Mazibuko's forthcoming evidence. 

Mazibuko is sworn in.

07 Jun 2019

Zondo calls for the lunch adjournment before Mazibuko's testimony begins. A shorter lunch break has been called for, and proceedings resume at 13:45.

07 Jun 2019

Makgatho wraps up her testimony, and Zondo thanks her for taking the time to come to the commission and give evidence. 

A short adjournment is called to prepare for the next witness. Back in 5mins.

07 Jun 2019

Makgatho: "As I have indicated before, I have worked with Brian Molefe before, and I believe that he knows my technical ability. And I believe that he knows whether I'm a person to be trusted, or not to be trusted."

Makgatho: "So, I think he was in between, and he was trying to bridge the gap between me and the GCFO, and he couldn't get me to move from where I was. He knew that he couldn't tell me directly and he knew that on the other side, this other team is also not moving..."

Makgatho: "We had engagements with him so many times in his office, where [there] would be bickering between me and Mr Singh, and he would try to mediate. And I think that this transaction was going to happen, but he just needed me to cross over."

07 Jun 2019

Back from the break, Makgatho's testimony continues.

07 Jun 2019

'Certain car boots were full of cash' ex-Transnet treasurer tells inquiry

"It was an open secret that certain [car] boots were full of cash". 

This was part of the testimony on Friday by the former Group Treasurer of Transnet, Mathane Eveline Makgatho, at the judicial inquiry into state capture. 

The commission of inquiry has been investigating allegations of state capture, corruption and fraud since August 2018. 

READ FULL STORY

07 Jun 2019

Proceedings adjourn for the tea break. Back in 15mins. 

07 Jun 2019

Makgatho says she travelled home from China with Anoj Singh's suitcase, but she never once opened it and immediately handed it over to Singh's driver at the airport.

07 Jun 2019

Makgatho: "If we felt that the pricing was too excessive, the normal procedure was to terminate discussions and focus on other cost-effective facilities."

Makgatho says when the meeting concluded, Singh asked for a private meeting with one of the Chinese counterparts, which she was not part of. Makgatho says that he said he was managing him and stressing that Transnet is interested. 

Makgatho: "I just noted that he was a happy chappy after that meeting." 

Makgatho says that shortly after this, Singh's travel plans had almost immediately changed and he told Makgatho that he would no longer be travelling home with her, but he would rather be going home via London.

Singh asked Makgatho to gather his luggage from his hotel room and take it back to SA with her.

07 Jun 2019

Makgatho now tells the commission about a planned trip to Beijing, China, as well as Hong Kong and Singapore.

Makgatho says the trip was cancelled twice, and rescheduled for a third time when she decided to do all the planning and travel arrangements herself. But once again, a few days before the planned trip and meeting, she was told it was cancelled. "I was not happy," says Makgatho, and she says she then went to Brian Molefe to escalate the issue.

After Molefe intervened, the trip finally took place on the third attempt - Molefe told Makgatho she could accompany Anoj Singh on the trip.


07 Jun 2019

Makgatho now discusses Transnet's engagements with China. 

Makgatho: "Their commitment fees were very high, their upfront fees were very high, but I was very patient at that particular point in time..."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
42% - 338 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
58% - 471 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.95
-0.2%
Rand - Euro
20.46
+0.0%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.36
-0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.3%
Platinum
911.00
+1.6%
Palladium
1,008.15
+0.6%
Gold
2,217.47
+1.0%
Silver
24.78
+0.5%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.9%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.9%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE