The Commission of Inquiry into State Capture will resume its hearings on Monday. The inquiry will hear evidence relating to the Free State Asbestos Project from Head of Department (HOD) of Human Settlements in the province, Nthimotse Mokhesi.
The Commission will also hear R1 Billion Housing Free State Project related evidence from the former Advisor to Free State Housing MEC, Mosebenzi Zwane, Martin Mmuso Tsoametsi.
Last week, Deputy Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo, expressed shock after former MEC for Human Settlements in the Free State, Mosebenzi Zwane, said that he was not aware – for a year – of the Housing Act, a law that applied to his portfolio.
Zwane was testifying over the alleged irregular use of funds and unlawful contracting processes in the Free State 2010 housing project during his tenure as MEC. Justice Zondo questioned Zwane about why he never familiarised himself with the act even after he was told about it.
“When you were told for the first time about the housing act and you were asking the officials what is the way forward. Precisely because you didn’t know about this act, they were telling you something new. You would want to see this act and see those provisions. Actually, I want to know from them, how come you have never told me about this act. That’s the kind of reaction I would have expected. What do you say to that?,” asked Zondo.
Zwane responded, saying: “What I did at that particular time which I thought was sufficient and was not questioned was to submit this idea to the collective of the executive.”
More on Zwane’s testimony in the video below:
The commission has heard evidence from a long list of witnesses since it started in August 2018.
Below is the commission’s statement on Monday‘s proceedings:
