If you have been keeping up with the testimonies at the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture, you would probably mistake it for a commission of amnesia.
From former minister Nomvula Mokonyane who says she had “forgotten” about her surprise 40th birthday which was allegedly paid for by Bosasa, to Vuyisile Ndzeku, the director of JM Aviation who did not remember receiving R2.3m for work done with SAA, some of the testimonies have been nothing short of laughable.
On Thursday Mokonyane, who was under cross-examination, said she had not asked who had organised her 40th birthday surprise party.
“I left the house being the guest of my family and I arrived at the party, and that dinner came out that it wasn’t just a family dinner; I never actually came to know who had actually organised it.”
When asked how she knew Bosasa was not at her 40th birthday, Mokonyane said: “I didn’t see anything branded Bosasa ... I didn’t see a representative of Bosasa because in the programme there was no-one speaking on behalf of Bosasa.”
Former Bosasa boss Angelo Agrizzi told the commission last year that Bosasa CEO Gavin Watson had ordered that Mokonyane’s birthday party be organised and be paid for by the controversial company which made millions from dodgy government contracts.
Last week it was Ndzeku who continuously claimed not to remember ... when he got married, and was surprised that a company where he was a director had transferred R2.5m to his private bank account.
Last week it was Ndzeku who continuously claimed not to remember a number of key matters, including when he got married, and was surprised that a company where he was a director had transferred R2.5m to his private bank account.
With his disdain for the commission and its work — and the way he sat sluggishly in his chair wearing sunglasses — he was the butt of all jokes for a few days.
But to every single taxpayer and citizen of this country, the corruption allegations against Ndzeku are no laughing matter. He and Mokonyane are making a mockery of the commission and the work it is meant to do.
More so, they are making a mockery of the citizenry who are fed-up with all the corruption and theft and the lack of consequences for wrongdoing.
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