Another former senior investigator in the public protector’s office on Thursday accused his boss, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, of watering down the Vrede dairy report and ignoring material evidence raised by a colleague.
Advocate Nditsheni Raedani told the Section 194 committee into Mkhwebane’s impeachment that he had warned her against making material changes to earlier versions.
He joined a growing list of former and current seniors from the public protector’s office who claim Mkhwebane unduly interfered in reports, either watering them down as in the case of the Vrede dairy report, or adding unlawful remedial action, as in the case of the CIEX/Reserve Bank report.
Raedani said a draft version of the Vrede dairy report was stripped of some of its most rigorous findings, including those regarding inflated pricing for goods and services, including cattle.
The sections overlooked in the ultimate report of 2018 included findings of gross irregularity, improper conduct, abuse of power, constitutional infringements and accounting irregularities.
Raedani said provisional versions of the investigation’s final report found the head of agriculture in the Free State flouted procurement prescripts. He claimed Mkhwebane insisted the #GuptaLeaks emails be ignored.
Gupta brothers Atul, Ajay and Rajesh “Tony” are close friends of former president Jacob Zuma and business partners of his son, Duduzane. In June Dubai police arrested Atul and Rajesh in connection with a criminal case about a R25m feasibility report conducted before the Vrede dairy project launched.
The family made billions leveraging their clout with Zuma when he was head of state. The relationship made the brothers so powerful they boasted about appointing ministers and handpicked board members at state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
The #GuptaLeaks contain various data from the Gupta-owned computer company Sahara’s server. They contain various records of correspondence between employees of Gupta-linked companies and other associates regarding the Vrede dairy project.
The venture was ostensibly geared at empowering black Free State farmers. Evidence before the state capture inquiry showed former Free State premier Ace Magashule and former agriculture MEC Mosebenzi Zwane were close to the Guptas.
“The public protector was adamant those should not be included in the investigation,” Raedani said of the leaked emails.
He claimed Mkhwebane rushed to complete the report and worked with him well into the night.
“I informed the public protector that these changes would have serious and adverse consequences for the office of the public protector, but she was indifferent,” he said.
Raedani recalled Mkhwebane replying that she did not care. “Anginandaba,” he claimed she said during a late night session finalising the report.
The senior investigator worked in the public protector’s office from 2008 to 2018. He worked closely with Mkhwebane and was involved in the quality assurance of reports.
He described the “unpleasant climate” in the office by the time he left.
In a written statement, he shared his view that he had become a target for Mkhwebane.
“In my view I was a target because of my involvement in the activities of the PSA, my professional disagreements with [Mkhwebane] and my known good working relationship with the former public protector,” he wrote.
Raedani shared his opinion Mkhwebane would approach an investigation “with a particular outcome in mind” allegedly ignoring arguments, evidence and other viewpoints.
He described former CEO Vussy Mahlangu of moving several investigators from national to regional level.
Advocate Dali Mpofu criticised Raedani’s testimony, highlighting disclaimers in his written statement and backtracking on assertions when questioned.
He claimed Raedani’s input was not worth the paper it was written on: “I think your evidence is seriously problematic. I am worried about you,” said Mpofu.
He predicted Mkhwebane’s version would be the changes she made to the draft report, including adding and removing text from a draft version, were permissible.
The committee resumes on Friday.
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