A company falling under the umbrella of controversial state contractor Bosasa has had its contract with the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture terminated and has been ordered to remove its equipment from the commission’s premises, notes BusinessLIVE.

It was initially revealed in reports by News24 and City Press that the company – Global Technology Systems (GTS), a Bosasa subsidiary – had been contracted by the Justice & Constitutional Development Department to provide security services to the commission. The articles also questioned whether proper procedures had been followed in making the appointment.

In a statement on Friday it was confirmed that with immediate effect GTS was ‘no longer providing any services to the commission and was asked to remove its equipment from the premises of the commission’. The announcement came on the same day as the SARS pounced on Bosasa’s headquarters (see report below). The company – now known as Africa Global Operations – has gone into liquidation.

According to the statement, ‘the commission and the department are agreed that procurement procedures were not followed in regard to GTS’. It added Justice Minister Michael Masutha would ‘in due course inform the public in greater detail of the outcome of the investigation’. A News24 report notes that GTS, previously known as Sondolo IT, has over the years been awarded several multimillion-rand contracts by the Justice Department to provide security and install systems at courts around the country.

Full BusinessLIVE report

Full News24 report

Court-appointed liquidator Cloete Murray, meanwhile, says he has met with Bosasa workers and their union representatives. Murray was at the Krugersdorp head office of African Global Operations on Friday, says a News24 report.

He was appointed by the Master of the High Court in Johannesburg on Thursday. Murray said the board, which he confirmed had been dissolved, had handed him documents. ‘I have met with the board and introduced myself and explained to them of my appointment. We had a short discussion,’ he said.

Just after noon, SARS arrived at the headquarters and confiscated documents and computers.

‘Soon after my appointment, SARS officials contacted me, requesting electronic data. They are here to collect electronic data. They asked for access into the building and I gave it to them.’ Murray added that he had also explained his appointment to workers and their union representatives.

‘Operations will proceed and we will keep them in employment. I can't confirm how long they will be here,’ he concluded.

Full News24 report

Murray also said he was unsure whether workers would be paid until the end of March, as claimed by a union representative. A TimesLIVE report says employees have downed tools and were leaving the company premises on Friday afternoon following a meeting with the liquidator in the morning. They had arrived at work in the morning to find the gates locked.

‘We didn't know what was happening and private security people barred us from entering,’ one employee reportedly told TimesLIVE.

He said they were only allowed to enter the premises after 10am when the liquidator had arrived. Union representative Obakeng Moagi said the liquidator had assured them that workers would be paid at the end of March. However, Murray could not confirm how long operations would continue at the company.

‘I just arrived and can't really answer that right now,’ he said.

Full TimesLIVE report