‘Like millions in cash was dished out to everyone’ - SSA looting leaves Zondo baffled

“It’s like money, cash just gets dished out to different people. You can have R90 million, you can have R5 million, you can have R3 million,” said Zondo following explosive evidence on Tuesday.

The acting director-general of the State Security Department, Loyiso Jafta, detailed how millions in cash were stolen from the intelligence agency.

“It was done on purpose; it was expedient for it to be done and it was done so brazenly that in fact, I don’t believe the people involved ever thought that there would ever be accountability,” he said. 

Former president Jacob Zuma was fingered in his testimony.

He testified that the SSA funded Zuma’s faction within the African National Congress (ANC)and that the lines were blurred between party and state.

“They are instances where most definitely our activities really responded to the interest of the President in his private capacity.

“Quite clearly there was an executive overreach, there was quite clearly, instances of manifestly unlawful or illegal instructions.”

Zondo ruled earlier the day that his testimony would not pose a threat to national security following an application by Minister Ayanda Dlodlo to prevent him from taking the stand.

Jafta suggested that the process to secure a bag of cash could hardly have been easier.

“A member would prior to that fill-in a certificate stating that he or she is embarking on a project, the cost there-of and simply that the project is consistent with the performance plan of the agency.

“On the basis of this certificate R20 million would be given to me in hard cash and I would walk out of the gate with R20 million in my bag or in the boot of my car.”

Jafta said the auditor-general could only start conducting audits on the entire agency, including covert operations, during the 2019/20 financial year.