BlackFacts Details

Angelo Agrizzi’s big Bosasa corruption bill: Liquidators seek R91m

On Saturday, Agrizzi, described as Watson's right-hand man, in a response through his attorney, Daniel Witz, said he disputed all the facts relied on by the liquidators - and registered his disappointment and surprise that evidence and findings of the liquidation enquiry - a secret process - had been leaked.

"It has been clearly established from the evidence tendered at the enquiry, by yourself and on behalf of others, that Mr Watson adopted a particular modus operandi with the view of financially benefiting and diverting Bosasa revenue to certain select individuals," the letter of demand addressed to Agrizzi read.

Miotto Trading, a Bosasa front company and one of the entities identified by liquidators as a conduit, shot to fame last year when it emerged Watson had made a R500 000 donation to Cyril Ramaphosa's 2017 ANC presidential campaign.

Additionally, evidence before the liquidation enquiry revealed Agrizzi and Van Tonder had both received eight cash consignments of R1 million each during the course of 2016 - cash that "belonged" to Bosasa, according to the liquidators.

Agrizzi, Van Tonder and other senior Bosasa managers together with former correctional services commissioner Linda Mti and former Department of Correctional Services chief financial officer Patrick Gillingham have also been charged with fraud and corruption

They were charged with several counts of money laundering and violations of the Public Finance Management Act as well as the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.