House chairperson paid by Bosasa ‘over a 10 year period’
Former Bosasa executive Angelo Agrizzi has revealed more shocking allegations at the commission of inquiry into state capture on Friday.
On the second day of his latest round of testimony Agrizzi implicated the National Assembly’s House Chairperson for Committees and ANC MP Cedric Frolick.
He told the commission that Frolick received R40 000 a month in bribes over a 10 year period from the company's boss, Gavin Watson.
Agrizzi said one of the tasks Frolick had to do was to convince the former chairperson of the standing committee on justice and correctional services, Vincent Smith, to work with Bosasain order not to jeopardise their irregular contracts with correctional services.
"At that stage, Vincent Smith was the thorn in the flesh he was the person who would question anything Bosasa had done, he would raise issues with regards to Bosasa and was a major concern. He was actually at that stage doing what was right, all his questions and points were very valid.
"There was a specific meeting at the time when Gavin Watson told Cedric to do whatever is possible to ensure we win over Vincent Smith or alternatively to try and move him out of that position so that he couldn't be detrimental to Bosasa and its contract.”
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He claimed Frolick eventually scheduled a meeting with Smith, who was not impressed to see him.
At this meeting, Agrizzi says he showed Smith brochures of Bosasa and tried to convince him that Bosasa was good for business. However, Smith did not budge and left.
He said over time, Smith eventually came around.
Agrizzi added that one of Frolick's other tasks was to ensure Watson secured a meeting with Justice Minister Micheal Masutha.
He said Frolick and Watson planned the whole thing and eventually got Masutha accommodation at one of Watson's houses in Port Elizabeth during an ANC rally.
"The idea was that Cedric Frolick, who had been organising accommodation and everything for parliamentarians and politicians from the ANC, would say to Masutha that every other place was full and he had found him a special place."
He said while Watson was excited about the meeting it seemed to have been unsuccessful.
"The meeting did take place and if I remember correctly, Gavin went there with his brother Valence Watson. I don't think it was a success at all because usually Gavin would call me and tell me that he had a brilliant meeting and the way forward."