South Africa: Whistleblower Nabbed for Graft

A spokesperson for the Hawks, the national law enforcement agency devoted to organized crime and corruption, said Wednesday that five of the suspects would appear in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Pretoria that morning. 

One of them is Angelo Agrizzi, a chief whistleblower in South Africa’s ongoing state capture inquiry. The others include former correctional services officers and other Bosasa employees. 

The inquiry was launched following a scandal which erupted after documents leaked to the South African press in 2017 revealed close ties between then-president Jacob Zuma and the well-connected Gupta family. Several of Zuma’s children served as directors of Gupta companies. 

The Guptas relocated to South Africa from India in 1993 and have allegedly used their vast wealth to wield influence over the government. It is suspected that kickbacks amounting to US$411 million were paid in exchange for state contracts. 

Zuma established a commission last January to investigate the allegations, but resigned the following month due to pressure from within his party. 

Agrizzi is the former chief operating officer for Bosasa, a facilities management company now known as African Global Operations. 

The charges relate to four tenders, worth about $117.8 million, which the Department of Correctional Services awarded to Bosasa between May 2004 and December 2005. The tenders were for food catering, fencing, and the provision of televisions in prison cells. Prosecutors allege that the catering contract was extended illegally, according to News24. 

Former correctional services commissioner Linda Mti stands accused of accepting gifts worth $71,700 from Bosasa in the form of flight tickets, car rentals, and accommodation in exchange for ensuring the four contracts were granted to Bosasa, according to the charge sheet News24 obtained. 

Commenting on Agrizzi’s arrest, a constitutional law expert warned of the effect it could have on potential witnesses. 

“The arrests, while welcome, perhaps will have a chilling effect on the willingness of other whistle-blowers to appear before the commission,” Phephelaphi Dube told Business Daily.