Publish date | 10 July 2019 |
Issue Number | 668 |
Diary | Legalbrief Forensic |
It's been a torrid week – and year – for the disgraced African Global Operations (AGO), formerly Bosasa, which has become symbolic of the state capture chaos that has come so close to crippling the economy. Legalbrief reports that the company which went into voluntary liquidation in February has been shredded by its former COO Angelo Agrizzi who confirmed to the Zondo Commission that it was extensively involved in corrupt activities during Jacob Zuma's Presidency. These involved monthly payments of R300 000 collected on behalf of Zuma by former SAA chairperson Dudu Myeni, kickbacks to the ANC, and a R500 000 donation to Cyril Ramaphosa during his 2017 campaign. And now a special tribunal set up to recover money looted from the state is expected to pick the meat off the bone of the Bosasa carcass. The tribunal, which is expected to be operational by October, has set a target of recovering R14.7bn. Die Burger reports that Special Investigations Unit head Andy Mothibi on Tuesday told the National Assembly’s Justice Committee that the ball is now in the court of Justice Department regarding the logistical arrangements of the tribunal. A report on the News24 site notes that a preliminary site for the tribunal has been established at the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg). When the tribunal is up and running, it will deal with civil litigation to recover stolen funds. Mothibi said it wanted to involve the asset forfeiture unit in recouping the losses. Besides addressing the Bosasa saga, the tribunal will seek to recoup funds spent on former President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla home, and address the Life Esidimeni tragedy.