Norma Mngoma makes explosive state capture claims against Gigaba, Guptas

She reluctantly made an appearance before the commission of inquiry into state capture on Monday evening where she spent more than 5 hours detailing lavish international trips, visits to the infamous Gupta compound and the exchange of hard cash. 

Mngoma alleged that while Gigaba was a sitting minister, they made a number of trips to the Saxonwold compound where the infamous Gupta brothers handed him stacks of money stashed in duffle bags. 

She also bolstered claims that the Gupta brothers were behind some high-profile appointments, dismissals and reshuffles at state-owned enterprises.  

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According to her, Ajay Gupta tipped Gigaba off about his appointment to the Public Enterprises portfolio at least three months before the official announcement but his appointment to the position was later leveraged to pressure him into certain decisions. 

The relationship between Gigaba and the Gupta brothers alleged took strain when they couldn’t agree on some decisions.  

“It was in the later stage, when he (Malusi) would avoid taking his (Ajay’s), calls because he knew he would tell him something that would upset him, or he would tell him about a certain individual that needs to be moved. 

“Everyone there was someone that Ajay wanted to be appointed, he would just put pressure on him and Malusi would hate that and then he would he ignore his calls.”

The commission’s evidence leader advocate Anton Myburgh asked Mngoma about the consequences of Gigaba’s defiance of the Gupta’s instructions. 

“I only remember one time when he told Malusi he must remember why he was appointed in this position” Norma added.