Zondo commission adjourns after Linda Mti given more time for testimony

South Africa

Johannesburg – Former Department of Correctional Services Commissioner Linda Mti will not be appearing at the State Capture commission of Inquiry on Tuesday.

Mti was expected to give insight into dodgy dealings involving corruption-accused facilities management company Bosasa and the state.

However, his legal team said on Tuesday morning that he was not given enough time to prepare. His lawyer said that their client was only told that he was expected to appear before the commission six days ago.

The legal team argued that this was not short notice.

Mti was expected to be the second Bosasa-related witness to testify before the commission this week after former Cabinet Minister Nomvula Nonkonyane.

Another witness, Minister of Minerals and Energy Gwede Mantashe has been admitted to hospital with Covid-19.

Pretoria Chief magistrate Desmond Nair has filed an application to cross-examine Charl le Roux, who appeared earlier this month.

Evidence leader Advocate Viwe Notshe said that one of the two witnesses who were expected to make statements in that application was in quarantine due to Covid-19.

“We have a problem with one witness, but we are hoping that within seven days from now he should be available to have the statement commissioned,” said Notshe.

The state capture commission gave the undertaking to give Mti a new date by Friday, and proceeding were adjourned indefinitely.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *