Former finance minister Trevor Manuel has been sworn in and delivers his testimony before the Zondo commission into state capture.

Follow News24 journalist @tshidi_lee on Twitter for live tweets from the commission

Then ANC sectretary general Kgalema Motlanthe was present when Mbeki asked if Manuel would continue as finance minister. He questioned Motlanthe's presence.

Under Mbeki's reign, new and old ministers were summoned to the presidential guesthouse.

Manuel: It seemed as if some people knew in December 2015 that there would be a new finance minister, which was a break from the confidentiality norm.

Mbeki asked Manuel to leave through another exit and avoid interaction with others.

#StateCaptureInquiry Gcabashe asking if there was a "norm" Manuel says this is complex as norms need a longer period but he says Madiba's actions were in line with the spirit of the constitution @TeamNews24
— Matshidiso Madia (@tshidi_lee) February 28, 2019

Manuel says around March Mandela told him he would get a new deputy minister - Gill Marcus, gave them an opportunity to chat. This was later announced in parliament, with Erwin taking over from Manuel at DTI.

#StateCaptureInquiry Manuel: first president I served under was the late Nelson Mandela, first government we were a part of was national unity, says it was clear there were consultations between Madiba & some of the senior leaders @TeamNews24
— Matshidiso Madia (@tshidi_lee) February 28, 2019

Manuel says Madiba called him at 4am, to see him. He got there and found Madiba with Mbeki, Tito Mboweni and Alec Erwin. Told them he needed to find a new minister of finance.

#StateCaptureInquiry Manuel: first president I served under was the late Nelson Mandela, first government we were a part of was national unity, says it was clear there were consultations between Madiba & some of the senior leaders @TeamNews24
— Matshidiso Madia (@tshidi_lee) February 28, 2019

Manuel says Mandela had indicated a number of positions had been secured before his inauguration.

"There were a number of positions, including that the position of deputy president would be shared by Mbeki and De Klerk..."

#StateCaptureInquiry Manuel: first president I served under was the late Nelson Mandela, first government we were a part of was national unity, says it was clear there were consultations between Madiba & some of the senior leaders @TeamNews24
— Matshidiso Madia (@tshidi_lee) February 28, 2019

Gcabashe asks him to summarise his experience of what was done when he was appointed as a minister.

#StateCaptureInquiry Gcabashe moves on, dealing with reasons why he was called to the commission - the NEC meeting in August 2011 @TeamNews24
— Matshidiso Madia (@tshidi_lee) February 28, 2019

Gcabashe now moving on to the ANC NEC meeting of August 2011. Might be better to look at broad appointments and dismissals, she adds.

#StateCaptureInquiry Gcabashe asks him when the SACP speaks of decisions that don't put South Africans first? he agrees and says it can be felt immediately, cites deteriorating state of infrastructure, poor spending and the burden being put on future generations @TeamNews24
— Matshidiso Madia (@tshidi_lee) February 28, 2019

Manuel: No one in South Africa can ever entertain the idea of allowing Eskom to go down. But having it means we increase the burden of debt in the general economy.

#StateCaptureInquiry Manuel says when he looks at former PP Adv Thuli Madonsela's report there was a cavalier attitude @TeamNews24
— Matshidiso Madia (@tshidi_lee) February 28, 2019

Manuel: Eskom didn't impose a burden on Fiscal. If you look at the position of Eskom now, it's clear that Eskom sits as an albatross around the neck of the fiscus.

#StateCaptureInquiry Manuel: Eskom was once one of the top utilities in the world, had a strong credit rating, says they were envious of the fact that it could borrow cheaply "look at the situation in the last decade, all of that has come apart" @TeamNews24
— Matshidiso Madia (@tshidi_lee) February 28, 2019

Gcabashe asks him if he can identify institutions vulnerable to state capture. Manuel says its fundamental and start speaking of Eskom

#StateCaptureInquiry Manuel says the collapse of SOEs over the last decade speaks to failure to follow the PFMA @TeamNews24
— Matshidiso Madia (@tshidi_lee) February 28, 2019

Schedules in state-owned enterprises. Eskom, transnet SAA, they are all listed in the schedule.

Manuel says when they developed PFMA there was fundamental shift in the norms. Focus was on outputs and responsibilities. PFMA looks at the fact that when there is reckless spending, the poor are denied access to services. #StateCaptureInquiry
— State Capture Commission (@StateCaptureCom) February 28, 2019

Manuel: When there is reckless spending, the poor are denied access because controls are not in place.

#StateCaptureInquiry Manuel: the issues that arise about the appointment of ministers is exceedingly material, who knows, who's consulted, who breaks the news is signal about the conduct before this commission @TeamNews24
— Matshidiso Madia (@tshidi_lee) February 28, 2019

Gcabashe puts what Manuel has said into context.

The issues that arise about the appointment of ministers is exceedingly material. It signals a range of other issues that are before this commission.

#StateCaptureInquiry Manuel: the issues that arise about the appointment of ministers is exceedingly material, who knows, who's consulted, who breaks the news is signal about the conduct before this commission @TeamNews24
— Matshidiso Madia (@tshidi_lee) February 28, 2019

#StateCaptureInquiry Manuel says no higher authority than the president, constitution gives responsibility to hire ministers to the president @TeamNews24
— Matshidiso Madia (@tshidi_lee) February 28, 2019

Gcabashe going through the different definitions of state capture "re-purposing the state" & "form of corruption, distinct and more evasive than administrative corruption".

#StateCaptureInquiry Gcabashe speaking to Manuel, says she wants to focus on state capture and what he identifies as key issues in state capture @TeamNews24
— Matshidiso Madia (@tshidi_lee) February 28, 2019

Manuel confirms that the evidence brought before the commission is new evidence.

Manuel confirms he is familiar with the Public Protector's state of capture report.

Manuel makes necessary adjustments to his statement.

Mr Manuel took oath. Zondo thanked him for coming forward. DCJ Zondo called on other minister to come forward and assist the work of the commission. #StateCaptureInquiry
— State Capture Commission (@StateCaptureCom) February 28, 2019

ICYMI:

WATCH LIVE: Trevor Manuel testifying at #StateCaptureInquiry https://t.co/LeOVOjeucz pic.twitter.com/ZxVyGKCPxU
— News24 (@News24) February 28, 2019

Trevor Manuel is sworn in.

Zondo thanks Manuel for his willingness to testify.

Zondo: We can't be delayed for too long for people not giving the work of the commission priority. Some witnesses are not giving the comission the priority it deserves.

Zondo adds that they try to accommodate witnesses as far as possible.

Morning, Adv Leah Gcabashe SC is addressing the chairperson in relation to the Statement of Mr Trevor Manuel. She says implicated persons have been served with rule 3.3 notices. #StateCaptureInquiry
— State Capture Commission (@StateCaptureCom) February 28, 2019

Gcabashe: Manuel's evidence has been all over the media, I'd like to think that Mbalula is aware of it.

Mbalula as not yet responded to rule 3.3 notice, no knowledge of receipt, the legal team have emailed him Manuel's statement.

Zondo says further measures need to be taken on this issue, for other witnesses as well.

The contents of Ajay Gupta’s submission will also be put to Manuel.

Morning, Adv Leah Gcabashe SC is addressing the chairperson in relation to the Statement of Mr Trevor Manuel. She says implicated persons have been served with rule 3.3 notices. #StateCaptureInquiry
— State Capture Commission (@StateCaptureCom) February 28, 2019

Gcabashe highlights that she will dive into the appointments and dismissals of Cabinet ministers, as well as how Fikile Mbalula came about his appointment as Minister of Sports.

Former finance minister Trevor Manuel is present at the commission. He is being represented by Advocate Wim Trengove. Evidence to be led by Advocate Leah Gcabashe.

#StateCaptureInquiry Former finance minister Trevor Manuel appearing before the commission today (@tshidi_lee)
— Team News24 (@TeamNews24) February 28, 2019

Former finance minister Trevor Manuel set to testify before Zondo commission

Former finance minister Trevor Manuel and former SANDF chief General Siphiwe Nyanda are scheduled to testify before the Zondo commission into state capture on Thursday.

Last month, Zondo, who is chair of the commission, denied an application by the Gupta family's lawyer Mike Hellens to cross-examine Manuel.

This was the second time the family was denied opportunity to cross-examine witnesses.

Read full article...

News24.com | LIVE: Former finance minister Trevor Manuel is sworn in at #Statecaptureinquiry

LIVE: Madiba's actions were in line with the spirit of Constitution - Manuel testifies on Cabinet appointments at #StateCaptureInquiry