Mokonyane: Gavin Watson was a freedom fighter
Former minister Nomvula Mokonyane says the time will come to expose former Bosasa (now African Global Operations) executive Angelo Agrizzi.
Mokonyane, who sits on the African National Congress (ANC) national executive committee, was speaking at the memorial service of the company’s late CEO Gavin Watson in Roodepoort.
Watson died in a car crash on Monday.
Agrizzi told the State Capture Commission of Inquiry in April, that Mokonyane was one of the people who was paid R50 000 a month in bribe money by Bosasa at the instruction of Watson.
He said among other benefits, Mokonyane's house was maintained at Bosasa's cost and the company regularly hired an Audi A3 for her daughter.
According to Agrizzi, Bosasa paid for ANC functions through Mokonyane.
The former minister told mourners that Watson was prosecuted for being a freedom fighter who dared to fund the ANC when it was not fashionable to do so.
"As I am sitting here, the media is reporting about a former minister of water who was given chicken pieces and whiskey who is here. My time has come and I will tell you what Gavin has done and not what Agrizzi is saying. But I will also tell you what Agrizzi has done."
"Capital has no friend, capital is evil, Gavin was not a capitalist, he was a freedom fighter who loved life. Whatever he was doing with Agrizzi only his creator will deal with it, who are we to judge? What we know is that there is a day called judgment day."
Mokonyane thanked the Watson family for their contribution to the struggle against apartheid, she said they were being attacked because they are misunderstood.