State Capture Inquiry: Zuma's 'Private Force' Cost R1 Billion
- The State Capture Inquiry heard how ex-president Jacob Zuma's 'private force' cost R1 billion over the course of just 6 years
- This was the bill for armed VIP protectors and related covert projects during this time frame
- This comes as the testimony on the State Security Agency continues at the Zondo Commission
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The State Security Agency reportedly spent a total of R1 billion on Jacob Zuma's 'private force' of VIP protectors and secret projects between 2012 and 2018.
Source: Getty Images
This is according to testimony heard by the State Capture Inquiry given by secret witness Ms K who detailed projects including Operation Commitment and Operation Lock.
The anonymous whistleblower claimed that a multitude of projects was used to channel the entity's funds to a parallel intelligence structure allegedly engaged in unlawful operations believed to have been primarily undertaken for Zuma's benefit.
Ms K claimed that former special ops head Thulani Dlomo had signed for millions, something that is allegedly above his powers.
The witness detailed how the domestic branch limit is set at R50 000 while the foreign branch limit is set at R200 000.
This, in her opinion, meant that Dlomo simply didn't have the authority to sign off on the steep amounts that Ms K claimed repeated itself in every project.
The witness further claimed that a single project, to ensure the safety of the ex-president's aircraft, took up a staggering 40% of the chief directorate for internal security's budget for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 financial years.
Ms K is adamant that these projects were not only illegal but served little benefit to the agency.
Earlier, Briefly.co.za reported that former president Jacob Zuma has been front and centre at the State Capture Inquiry this week.
The Commission heard how the former statesman had used the State Security Agency as his own personal playground from former minister of safety and security Sydney Mufamadi.
The testimony detailed how if Zuma was not allegedly coining it out of SSA coffers, he was utilizing the agency to persecute enemies, silence discontent with his administration or protect cronies.
Mufamadi claimed that Minister of State Security David Mahlobo and former SSA special operations unit head Thulani Dlomo were Zuma's inside men at the SSA.
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Source: Briefly News
