Bosasa ‘paid for’ Mokonyane birthday

FORMER Cabinet Minister Nomvula Mokonyane’s evidence has been brought into question after witnesses said she had allegedly benefited from Bosasa.

This followed the evidence of the owner of a guest house on the West Rand who implicated Mokonyane in the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into state capture yesterday.

The evidence related to the birthday bash that Mokonyane had a few years ago.

Frederick Hendrick Coetzee, the owner of Krugersdorp-based Victorian Guest House, told the inquiry that his guest house had hosted a 40th birthday celebration for Mokonyane in 2003, which was paid for by Bosasa.

Coetzee said he was approached by former Bosasa chief operating officer Angelo Agrizzi to host a birthday party in June 2003. He said he was told that the event was for Mokonyane and that Bosasa would provide for the costs of the party.

Coetzee provided the commission with invoices which showed that he had invoiced Bosasa and Agrizzi for the expense of the celebration which was R41 000.

“I got a call from Agrizzi asking for a meeting and they came to the guest house asking to host a function and that Bosasa would pay for the whole event. Initially it was for 80 people, which then went up to 120. And when the guests started arriving, it grew to 174,” Coetzee told the inquiry.

Bosasa provided the event. Coetzee testified that the amount of alcohol that was delivered was substantial and he estimated that it could have been worth between R30 000 and R40 000.

Mokonyane had appeared at the inquiry in July and refuted allegations levelled against her by Agrizzi.

Agrizzi appeared in 2019 and alleged that because Mokonyane was seen as a valuable political figure who wielded power in the ANC, she was rewarded with bribes by former Bosasa chief executive Gavin Watson.

He said Mokonyane received cash gifts of between R40 000 and R50 000 from Watson.

Mokonyane denied the allegations and said Bosasa had not hosted a birthday party for her.

The inquiry resumes today.