Zola Tsotsi admits to misleading Zondo commission

Tsotsi returned to the commission on Friday to answer allegations against him by former fellow board members and former executives at the power utility.

In his initial affidavit, he told the commission that he was sent a list containing members of his board in different sub-committees by Gupta associate Salim Essa.

Tsotsi said Essa instructed him to send that list to former minister of public enterprises Lynne Brown and present it as his own.

He said he ignored that instruction and sent his list.

But on Friday, the commission learnt that Tsotsi has in fact sent Essa’s list to Brown and only later sent his own.

ALSO READ: Nathaniel Julies murder trial set to start in March

Deputy Justice Raymond Zondo: "Mr Tsotsi, there aren't two meanings of ignoring. Ignoring something is to do nothing about, here you did nothing about Mr Essa's composition, you did exactly what he asked you do, you presented it to the minister as your own?"

Tsotsi: "Yes."

He said Brown received two lists, one sent by Essa to him and the one he sent.

Brown's affidavit read by evidence leader Paul Seleka denies these allegations. 

Tsotsi told the commission Brown brought back the same list and composition that Essa has sent as her preferred one.

He said she rubber-stamped it at a meeting at her house in January 2015.

"She called me to her residence where I found her sitting with Tony Gupta and Salim Essa and she said to me that her version of the composition of the board subcommittees is the version he sent me and the version she accepts," said Tsotsi