On Monday, the former minister of environmental affairs, Novula Mokonyane described the claims made against her by former Bosasa official, Angelo Agrizzi as defamatory and full of contradictions.
Before the state capture inquiry last year, Agrizzi in his testimony made a number of allegations against Mokonyane which includes the fact that her home was renovated by Bossa and the company also assisted her in burying her relatives and there were R50,000 monthly payments to her.
She found the submissions extreemly defamatory and full of contradictions.
“I find that they seem to be an act of of desperation for reasons that are better known of Mr Agrizzi to discredit me, destroy the little of what remains of my character and my family,” Mokonyane said at the commission on Monday.
She also found it too insensitive for Agrizzi to claim that the cost of the burial of some of her family members were funded by Bosasa. She said in any of her bereavements it is a thing of pride and cultural practices to bury their own themselves.
She also denied the claim that Agrizzi co-ordinated her 50th birthday party which held at Victoria Guest House in Krugersdorp and said she turned 50 in 2013 and her birthday was hosted at Silverstar Casino in Krugersdorp.
The commission chairperson, Raymond Zondo said Agrizzi stated he had attended meetings where he and Mokonyane were present. He also accompanied Bosasa CEO, Gavin Watson to an event which Mokonyane was present.
“I have never been in a meeting with Mr Agrizzi and he is also not a personal friend or anybody who I can have a social interaction with. I have never sat at the meeting with Mr Agrizzi,” Mokonyane said.
In his affidavit, Agrizzi said towards the end of every year he was tasked by Watson to see to the Mokonyane family’s Christmas needs and give them foodstuff which includes provisions, 120 cases of cold drink, four cases of whisky, eight lambs, 12 cases of frozen chicken, 200kg of beef and 40 cases of beer.
“I have never received anything that Mr Agrizzi is stating. We all know in a house like this, one cannot have storage to keep these items. Nor do I have space to keep these items,” Mokonyane said on Monday.
The hearing continues.
