McBride, Booyens abandon bid to cross-examine state capture witnesses

The State Capture Commission received several withdrawals for leave to cross-examine certain witnesses.

A legal representative for former IPID head, Robert McBride, and former Hawks boss, Johann Booyens today abandoned their leave for cross-examine witnesses who implicated them in state capture.

They have now requested the commission to call them back in order give their version of events.

They have, however, asked  to appear before the commission on the 25th and 28th this month to clear their names.

The Commission’s chair Deputy Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo, says that he will grant them a day to come back and give evidence.

“They will be granted an opportunity to come back and give a summary of their versions of the allegations against them in due course.”

Wednesday’s proceedings in the video below:

Legal representative, advocate Anthony Mosing, told the commission that his clients including McBride, Matthews Sesoko, Col Petrus Du Plooy, Innocent Khuba, Trevor White, Simphiwe Mlotshwa and Johann Booysen want to set the record straight.

The applicants were implicated at the commission by certain witnesses for allegedly aiding state captured by the Gupta family.

“Our request is that the legal team should be given the opportunity to summarise the critical versions of our clients on the 25th and 28th and that should be reflected on the report at the end of the day,” says Mosing.

The Commission will hear Transnet-related evidence from former Transnet CFO, Anoj Singh, and former Minister of Public Enterprises, Malusi Gigaba, on Thursday.