I did not commit wrongdoing knowingly, Zwane tells Zondo commission
Updated | By Gaopalelwe Phalaetsile
Former mineral resources minister Mosebenzi Zwane has admitted to the commission of inquiry into state capture that he pushed for the implementation of an unlawful procurement process during his time as MEC for Housing in the Free State.
Zwane came back to the commission on Friday to conclude his testimony on the R1.4 billion low-cost housing project in the Free State.
The project paid R600 million to a list of suppliers for work that was done.
Zwane denied that he bullied and threatened the department's former HOD Mpho Mokoena into implementing the prepayment scheme.
The scheme failed follow the prescribed tender process stipulated in the Public Finance Management Act.
Mokoena testified that Zwane threatened to get him fired if he did not implement the prepayment policy that came with the housing project.
This after Mokoena warned Zwane that he did not approve of the move.
Zwane denied ever being warned that the process was unlawful and said he was implementing a process that was discussed in an EXCO meeting attended by the province's MECs, including then premier Ace Magashule.
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Some officials in that department faced disciplinary hearings and were fired.
Evidence leader Paul Pretorius asked Zwane is he thought the axings were fair, considering the fact that the decision came from higher up.
"To be fair with this commission, I had not committed any wrongdoing knowingly. I have also never rejected any proposal that was brought to me by my team. I gave them a chance to go and research and make sure that we have a sound document we can take forward," Zwane said.
"The minutes will show that in December of 2010 a concern was raised regarding this process and I called a meeting and the CFO raised the issue about controls. I requested that those controls be addressed, so from where I am seated, I did everything in power to eliminate any wrongdoing," he added.
Zwane denied ever handing the list of priority contractors for the project to Mokoena.
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