Jonas, Mentor to kick off state capture hearings

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of State, will kick off on Monday.

The hearings will be held in Parktown, Johannesburg. 

The commission says the former head of the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), Themba Maseko will join Jonas and Mentor as one of the first witnesses. All three have been outspoken about they believe to have been undue influence by the controversial Gupta family in the alleged appointment of cabinet ministers and state-owned enterprises board members during the reign of former president Jacob Zuma.

Former public protector Thuli Madonsela stated in her report released in November 2016, that Mentor had claimed she was offered a ministerial post by the Gupta brothers at their Saxonworld compound in 2010. 

Jonas claimed he was offered R600 000 in cash by Ajay Gupta, as well as the job of finance minister, if he succeeded in firing the director-general at Treasury. 

The current deputy director-general of the GCIS, Phumla Williams, has also been called to testify. 

Chairperson, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, will open the highly anticipated proceedings on Monday morning, whereafter Advocate Paul Pretorius will deliver an opening statement on behalf of the legal team.

The commission says the legal team is in the process of identifying and consulting with other witnesses. 

Civil rights organisation Outa has welcomed the announcement of the first three witnesses. 

"These three individuals have first hand experience of state capture and it's going to be interesting to see how the puzzle pieces start to fit into place," says Outa's Wayne Duvenage.

Outa will be making various submissions regarding alleged state capture at Eskom, Transnet and other SOE's.

"Our written submissions are being ironed out right now and will be handed in before the end of September," adds Duvenage.