Almost three years ago revelations that the Gupta family was influencing government appointments and tenders shocked the nation. But after hearing testimony last week from former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi at the state capture inquiry, it is quite clear that the state was captured long ago. Agrizzi, who was right-hand man to Bosasa CEO Gavin Watson from 1999 to 2016, when he resigned, has blown the lid on how the facilities management company paid millions of rands in bribes in order to secure government tenders, laundered money and ensured state funds were indirectly channelled to the governing party for election campaigning. Between R4m and R6m a month was being paid in bribes, says the former Bosasa employee.
His testimony seems to have sent many into panic. According to the commission it implicates 38 officials from state-owned entities, government officials, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) officials, unionists and politicians. Agrizzi testified that even one of the co...
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