Former Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba broke his hiatus from social media with a statement lambasting the government for refusing to fork out R1 million to pay his lawyer fees, as he readies to appear before the State Capture Inquiry.
Malusi Gigaba cries foul over State refusal to fund his SCI appearance
In a series of tweets, Gigaba bemoaned the apparent unfair treatment he has received from the commission of inquiry into state capture, chaired by DCJ Raymond Zondo.
Gigaba shared his frustrations with reaching consensus with the commission’s legal team on certain terms of his appearance. The former minister wants an opportunity to cross-examine witnesses who have, in the past, implicated him in wrongdoing.
Moreover, at the heart of his discontent, is the state’s refusal to finance his legal defence.
“The state I was serving, the state which is spending R1bn on his commission, is refusing to pay the R1mil my lawyers need in order to help me prepare for my appearance,” he wrote.
Here’s when Gigaba is scheduled to return to Zondo commission
The commission had not responded to the minister’s statement at the time this article was published. Gigaba reluctantly agreed to appear before the inquiry from Monday 8 March to Friday 12 March 2021.
At the centre of his return, the commission will likely spend time grilling the former minister on his relationship with former president Jacob Zuma, his alliance with the notorious Gupta family and, perhaps, the millions he spent on a lavish lifestyle his ministerial salary could not afford.
His estranged wife is reportedly headed to State Capture Inquiry too
The nightmare might not end on the last day of his appearance, though. His estranged wife, Norma Mngoma, who recently won a court bid on her unlawful arrest, has been tipped to be on the roster of witnesses set to appear before the Zondo commission.
While it’s not been confirmed by the inquiry, it’s believed Mngoma accepted the request and will be more than happy to dish out the gory details of her run-ins with state capture.