EFF objection to lead investigator in state capture probe dismissed
Deputy
Chief Justice Zondo, who is leading the commission of inquiry into state
capture, has dismissed objections by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to the
appointment of Terence Nombembe as the commission’s head of
investigations.
Nombebe is a former auditor-general and the CEO of the South African Institute of Chartered Accounts (SAICA).
The EFF has accused Nombembe of accepting R1.2 million from Gupta-linked Trillian Capital in 2017.
But Zondo says there is no evidence to prove the allegations.
“On 28 February 2017 Trillian Capital paid an unsolicited donation of R1 270 000 to Thuthuka Bursary Fund (TBF), an entity of SAICA. Both Mr Nombembe and the acting CEO of SAICA, Fanisa Lamola, confirm that this was the only donation that Trillian Capital ever made to TBF. On The 8th of March the Business Development Manager of the TBF wrote to Trillian Capital thanking them for the donation.”
The Thuthuka Bursary Fund was formed by Saica to help previously disadvantage groups enter the accounting profession.
Zondo says the TBF board of Trustees unanimously decided to return the donation to Trillian.
“The fact that Mr Nombembe was part of this meeting means that he was part of the decision to reject the donation. Pursuant to the resolution of the Trustees, the TBF Executive Director, Chantyl Mulder wrote to Trillian Capital to convey the rejection of the donation by the TBF.
“Therefore there is no proper basis for the objection and it falls to be dismissed.”