Former Bosasa chief operating officer Angelo Agrizzi wants the companies appointed in the liquidation process of Bosasa to be investigated and charged for alleged fraud and misrepresentation, according to a report in The Sunday Independent.

It says Agrizzi requested that the government institute a Section 381(2) inquiry into liquidating the African Global Operations (formerly Bosasa). He added that the liquidators should also be removed. This after Agrizzi wrote to the Department of Justice, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), the Human Rights Commission (HRC), Treasury and the Office of the Public Protector to institute the inquiry against the liquidators and their directors and shareholders last year. 

The liquidators appointed are Sechaba Trust and co-liquidators Ralph Lutchman and Cloete Murray.

Agrizzi said their appointment was irregular – he shocked the public when he appeared before the State Capture Inquiry in 2019 and revealed allegations of corruption involving Bosasa’s executive, government officials and ANC members. He was also implicated in the claims and was arrested in October 2020.

Agrizzi said nothing had happened since his request for an inquiry against the liquidators.

Asked to confirm the receipt of the request, the Department of Justice and the SIU did not respond, notes the report.

HRC spokesperson Wisani Baloyi said questions were shared with the Gauteng provincial manager. The Treasury said the office of the chief procurement officer had no record of such correspondence.

Agrizzi also asked the Hawks to criminally charge the liquidators for contravening the Companies Act.

In his affidavit, submitted in February, Agrizzi said he was concerned there was a conflict of interest and dishonesty in the process. He set out the involvement of Sechaba Trust, Lutchman and Murray in the liquidation proceedings of Bosasa and its entities, notes The Sunday Independent report.

Agrizzi said Sechaba Trust allegedly had a member of Parliament, Dr Mathole Motshekga, who had not declared his interest, and that, he said, was in contravention of the rules of Parliament.

He said Motshekga, who allegedly owned 54% of Sechaba Trust, used his influence and power to secure appointments from the Master’s Office.

Agrizzi said Motshekga allegedly misled Parliament and his office when he declared that his shareholding amounted to 20%. 

Agrizzi said he also related to Lutchman's involvement in the initial voluntary liquidation as well as the 'touting' by pre-populating employees nomination forms to secure the position as the liquidator.

He said Lutchman, in concert with the Bosasa directors and Gavin Watson, intentionally misrepresented and induced employees into signing the requisition forms that would appoint Lutchman as the preferred liquidator.

The report claims Macrobert Attorneys director Nelia Wessels, who said her law firm represented the liquidators, did not respond.

It adds the Master’s Office also did not respond, and neither did Motshekga. 

Full report in The Sunday Independent