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Zondo Commission: 'I am not guilty of any wrongdoing,' says Thabang Makwetla

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Former Deputy Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Thabang Makwetla testifies during a virtual hearing at the Zondo Commission.
Former Deputy Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Thabang Makwetla testifies during a virtual hearing at the Zondo Commission.
Gallo Images/OJ Koloti
  • Former deputy Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Thabang Makwetla appeared before the Zondo Commission on Monday. 
  • Makwetla appeared before the commission to be re-examined by his legal representative. 
  • He said he was not guilty of wrongdoing.   

Former deputy Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Thabang Makwetla says it has "pained" him that he was appearing before an inquiry that is probing state capture, corruption, and fraud because of former Bosasa employee Richard le Roux.  

Makwetla appeared before the commission on Monday to be re-examined by his legal representative.

Makwetla was implicated by Le Roux who previously said he was tasked with installing security upgrades at various ministers' and government officials' homes.

Le Roux spoke about "special projects" he undertook on the instruction of various Bosasa directors, including CEO Gavin Watson, chief operations officer Angelo Agrizzi, Trevor Mathenjwa, Syvion Dlamini, and Papa Leshabane.

The special projects entailed the installation of security systems, including electric fencing, CCTV and alarm systems, at various homes of politicians and government officials around the country, News24 previously reported.

Makwetla told the commission that Le Roux doesn't even know where he worked.

"This thing has always like really pained me, that I am here before the commission because of Mr Le Roux and this commission is a commission that deals with state capture, is a commission that deals with corruption, is a commission that deals with fraud in government.

"The person who says I am guilty of those things, does not know where I worked, even as he was appearing before the commission."

He added:

This is the most funny of cases I have ever come across, of such serious allegations against a person [when] you don't even know where he worked.

Makwetla further told the commission that no one had come to the commission making allegations of his involvement in state capture, corruption, and fraud.

He said the only reason he was appearing before the commission was because a, "... technician who was head of a team that installed security features I asked for came here to say I am among the people [against] who the allegations made is that they are involved in state capture".

"I wish to assure everyone that I am not guilty of any wrongdoing in the entire period during [which] I have been a deputy minister at correctional services..."

He said he only requested two things from the company, which included an electric fence and repairing an alarm system.

"The rest of the other things, I have not asked for them," he said.  

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