Retired South African National Defence Force (SANDF) chief director of intelligence Maj-Gen Sandile Sizani has testified in the corruption and money laundering trial of former defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. Sizani appeared before the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria as a witness for the defence. He flagged red flags in the contract of Umkhombe Marine, a logistics company owned by defence contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, before it was awarded. Sizani worked in defence intelligence from 1994 until 2018 and investigated alleged procurement fraud and corruption in the Umkhombe Marine contract.
Sizani testified that he had only visited Mapisa-Nqakula's house once to deliver or collect a document for former SANDF chief Solly Shoke. His only direct interaction with the former minister regarding the case occurred when he bumped into her in the SANDF headquarters parking lot. Sizani flagged the lack of progress on the Umkhombe Marine investigation. He provided the military police with a file containing enough evidence to warrant arrests if further investigation was conducted. Sizani raised alarms when no subsequent action was taken.
Sizani explained that he was relieved when the case was taken off his hands because Shoke had placed strict conditions on his investigation. Shoke explicitly said Sizani should not involve any other person and must report directly to him. This limited Sizani's investigation, as he couldn't use the pool of investigators he had. Sizani was happy the case was given to the police but was concerned when nothing happened. Mapisa-Nqakula said she would discuss it with Shoke.
Sizani pointed out that Umkhombe Marine claimed to have chartered an aircraft to repatriate equipment to South Africa. However, the plane had already landed at Waterkloof Air Force Base days before the tender was even discussed. Sizani stated that all aircraft clearances had to go through counter-intelligence, which he headed. This specific flight never crossed his desk, and he had no knowledge of the flight or who approved it.
During cross-examination, state prosecutor Emile van der Merwe presented an affidavit Sizani had signed regarding the alleged procurement fraud. Van der Merwe pointed out a discrepancy between Sizani's testimony and his sworn statement regarding where he had raised his concerns with Mapisa-Nqakula. Sizani suggested he may have made a mistake, indicating he had met Shoke in his office and the minister in the parking lot.
Van der Merwe pressed the issue, reminding Sizani that he had vouched for the affidavit's accuracy. Sizani's reliability was called into question. Van der Merwe put it to Sizani that when Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu encountered issues regarding her contracts, it was the former minister who stopped the processes. Sizani said he couldn't comment on that.
The matter has been postponed to Monday for further evidence by the defence team. Mapisa-Nqakula faces 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering linked to her tenure between 2016 and 2019. She is accused of soliciting R4.5m in bribes, R2.1m of which was allegedly paid in cash from Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu to secure and maintain government tenders. Mapisa-Nqakula has denied all charges.
Key points
- Sizani flagged red flags in Umkhombe Marine's contract before it was awarded.
- Sizani's investigation was limited by Shoke's strict conditions.
- Discrepancies were found in Sizani's testimony and his sworn statement.
