Commission accuses Manyi of being untruthful in his testimony
The commission of inquiry into state capture has accused former government communication boss Mzwanele Manyi of lying under oath.
Manyi returned to the commission on Thursday to continue his testimony.
He returned after accusing the commission on Wednesday of ambushing him as he did not have adequate time to prepare.
Manyi was Themba Maseko's successor at GCIS following Maseko's axing.
Maseko claims he was fired due to his refusal to spend money at the Gupta-linked New Age newspaper.
Advocate Kate Hofmeyr outlined four statements Manyi made on Wednesday that she felt were untrue.
They relate to Manyi's term as director-general at the Department of Labour in 2010 and his transfer to GCIS.
Hofmeyr argued that Manyi gave false statements when he said:
• He never received a termination letter from then Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana on October 29, 2010.
• The first time he saw that the termination letter was when the commission presented it to him in October.
• He was never dismissed from the Department of Labour and
• He remained employed at the department but was on leave from the period of his suspension to the time he was transferred to the GCIS.
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Manyi returned to the commission of inquiry into state capture on Thursday to continue his testimony. He returned after accusing the commission on Wednesday of ambushing him as he did not have adequate time to prepare. Manyi was Themba Maseko's successor at GCIS following Maseko's axing.
Manyi reiterated that he had no knowledge of Minister Mdladlana's move to axe him, because he received a salary while on suspension.
“The issue of remaining an employee throughout. I said here yesterday, I have no evidence of having being dismissed and the reason I said so is because I was getting paid. It can never be factually correct to say a minister dismissed you.”
“Hofmeyr then referred to a letter signed by Manyi to then Public Service and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi on November 15 2010.
In the letter, Manyi acknowledges the termination letter which he had received two weeks prior.
“I did that letter under the advice of my lawyers and I said earlier that most probably my lawyers got it and because we are doing this thing under advice.
“I've signed the letter. I'm not running away from that, but the content of the letter, I did this under legal advice.”
Manyi then lashed out at Hofmeyr saying she was deliberately twisting his words.
"Advocate Hofmeyr is not operating in good faith, chair,” he told the commission’s chair, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
"Ms Hofmeyr is hell-bent on spinning my words. This is why I say she's operating in bad faith, chair. She wants to win this battle but we are only here to hear the truth."