Lungani Zungu
Nomachule Mngoma was lying, the former finance minister, Malusi Gigaba told the state capture commission on Monday. He said it was not true, as Mngoma said, that he always carried bags with large sums of cash with him.
Visibly enraged, Gigaba accused Mngoma of dragging his family into their divorce proceedings.
Gigaba has denied ever receiving money from the Gupta family, the alleged masterminds of state capture during former president Jacob Zuma’s tenure.
Mngoma claimed they used to have lunch in Sandton, and afterwards Gigaba would receive cash in bags from the Gupta family at the Gupta home in Saxonwold.
But Gigaba rubbished Mngoma’s claims. He said the bag carried items like hand sanitisers, hand lotion and cellphones.
“My purse can’t even hold R10,000,” he said.
“There is an ulterior motive to portray me in a particular light.”
He accused Mngoma of fabricating evidence to nail him and did it carefully so that she wasn’t implicated.
Gigaba said he sometimes carried cash with him.
“I was a minister earning an income, and sometimes I carried cash for some reason, including paying for the parking tickets.”
Gigaba said Mngoma was coached to present her own evidence in a convincing way.
“Some people are out to destroy me politically and she is working with them for a financial reward,” said Gigaba.
Gigaba and Mngoma tied the knot in 2014 in a glittering wedding ceremony.
But their once-blossoming relationship is in tatters. The couple is going through a volatile and public divorce.
Image source: @GCIS
