Former African National Congress (ANC) MP Vincent Smith to Question By State Capture Inquiry

The State Capture Inquiry is set to resume on Friday and is expected to hear testimony from former African National Congress (ANC) MP Vincent Smith on Bosasa.

The controversial company is alleged to have dished out bribes to a number of senior government officials and politicians, in exchange for lucrative state contracts.

Smith served Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, this was between 2009 and 2014. In 2009 the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) found that former correctional services officials Linda Mti and Patrick Gillingham received gifts in exchange for helping Bosasa bag several multi-million rand contracts.

AGRIZZI: VINCENT SMITH WAS ‘DOING WHAT WAS RIGHT’

Some of the allegations made against him include how he received R670 000 from Bosasa’s former Chief Operating Officer (COO) Angelo Agrizzi.

Agrizzi told the commission in 2019 that they had initially paid MP Cedric Frolick R40 000 a month to let him persuade Smith, who apparently did not think much of the company, in light of the SIU finding. He said while Smith had initially been reluctant, they eventually managed to sway him.

“…Vincent Smith was the thorn in the flesh. He would counter anything Bosasa would have done…he was [a] major concern. He was actually at that stage doing what was right”, Agrizzi told Zondo.

In addition to having allegedly received money from Bosasa, like other ANC members, Smith is also said to have received top of the range security upgrades at his home – at the company’s expense.

While he has admitted to receiving the money, he insists it was for a loan to pay for his daughter’s education, who had been studying overseas.

“I confirm having entered into an agreement for a personal loan with Mr A. Agrizzi which is repayable by me. This loan was processed to me in two separate payments; an amount of R220 000 in 2015; and R395 000 in 2016. The loan was for the university tuition fees of my daughter in year one (2015) and year 2 (2016)”, Smith said in a statement in response to the allegations.

However, he has denied Bosasa paid for the security features, saying he forked out money for them.

“I deny any further assistance, financial or otherwise, including the installation of CCTV cameras at my home from him or any other person or company. The cameras that are at my home were paid for by myself”