Yakhe Kwinana: State capture witness could now face another legal probe

Yakhe Kwinana has made headlines in recent weeks for her one-of-a-kind testimony at the State Capture Commission of Inquiry. While Evidence Leader Advocate Kate Hofmeyr claimed she was dishonest throughout the inquiry, Kwinana maintained her position.  

DA WRITES TO SAICA 

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in a statement released on Wednesday 11 November said it would be taking further action against Yakhe Kwinana by writing to the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA).  

“The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) to request an investigation into the alleged malfeasance by Yakhe Kwinana that has been exposed over the past week during hearings of the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture,” said DA Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts Alf Lees.

YAKHE KWINANA’S PERFORMANCE WAS ‘APPALLING’ 

Lees said that during the Myeni and Zuma era, Kwinana held lucrative board positions at South African Airways (SAA) and SAA Technical (SAAT). At SAAT Kwinana was the Chair of the Board and at SAA she was a Board member and Chair of the SAA Audit Committee.

“Kwinana’s performance at the Zondo Commission was appalling and was a clear indication that she was not a suitable person to be a member of a profession such as being a qualified CA(SA) and thus a member of SAICA,” said Lees. 

According to the DA, Kwinana has been accused of the following; 

• Having a conflict of interest in terms of her business relationship with Vuyo Ndzeku from whom she received R4.2 million;
• Soliciting a bribe from AAR Corporation which was in line to be awarded a R1.2 billion SAAT supplier contract;
• Stated that she didn’t know that she had approved a R1 billion SAA contract with Swissport;
• Was accused by Kate Hofmeyr, the evidence leader, of being a dishonest witness.
• Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo:
  • Implied that Kwinana was lying when he said of Kwinana’s statement that she did not have the whole set of documents and retorted “That can’t be true”;
  • Expressed incredulity that Kwinana, as a qualified CA, did not know the meaning of “domicilium”.

“We urge the SAICA to investigate Kwinana’s conduct as she seemingly played a pivotal role in the ANC capture of SAA and SAA’s destruction and bankruptcy and must be held accountable for her part in this mess,” said Lees.