Former Cabinet Minister Malusi Gigaba – who is accused of taking bribes to do the Gupta Family’s bidding – on Monday told the Zondo Commission that his estranged wife was a “pathological liar”.
Gigaba denied ever receiving bundles of cash in a bag from the Gupta brothers.
The Guptas fled South Africa after allegations surfaced that they had “captured the state” through their proximity to Jacob Zuma, who was president at the time.
The former minister refuted evidence that his wife gave the commission regarding a gifted car, donations towards his wedding, and extensions to his father’s rural home.
Gigaba said his wife was trying to badmouth his family to eke out a divorce settlement.
He said he had no idea of how Mngoma afforded their white wedding. During her testimony, earlier this month, Mngoma told the commission her white wedding cost about R5 million.
Gigaba said his responsibility was the traditional wedding, which cost less than R100 000.
He said he did not question his wife about the cost of the white wedding because he believed Mngoma was wealthy and a “highflying IT executive” whose father died in New York and left her a handsome inheritance.
Gigaba said he later found out that the person who died was not her dad but Mngoma’s fiance at the time.
The former minister disputed his wife’s evidence that he spent a lot of money on expensive suits.
Claims by Ngoma that the former minister’s father could not afford medication and could therefore not have afforded extensions to his rural home upset Gigaba.
He became emotional and expressed regret that his dead father was being “insulted” by Mngoma.
Gigaba, who denies ever receiving money from the Guptas, will return to the state capture commission at a later date to complete his evidence.
