Nkabinde Confesses Using 'Thumb Sucked' Dates Before Mchunu-Mogotsi Meeting

Hope Ntanzi Head of Staff Cedric Nkabinde confessed during Thursday's session with Parliament's special committee that he was uncer...

Hope Ntanzi

Head of Staff Cedric Nkabinde confessed during Thursday's session with Parliament's special committee that he was uncertain about the dates of meetings involving the MinisterSenzo Mchunu and Brown Mogotsi.

He claimed the dates in his sworn affidavit were "thumb-sucked dates" as his electronic devices had been taken away.

Nkabinde informed the committee that he couldn't specify the exact timing of the meetings, explaining that he used approximations while preparing his statement with the assistance of the evidence leaders.

"When the evidence leader sought my input, I was honest with them, expressing that it's regrettable I can't provide exact dates as I don't have the necessary information at hand due to the use of devices," he stated.

Then I was suggested to roughly consider it could be at that time. So I created this reference based on that.

The uncertainty focused on whether the initial encounter between Mchunu and Mogotsi took place in September or during the period from October to November 2024.

Nkabinde initially mentioned that he had obtained Mogotsi's contact information from the minister prior to arranging a meeting in October or November.

Nevertheless, members highlighted inconsistencies with his own affidavit, in which he claimed that Lieutenant GeneralNhlanhla Mkhwanazihad contacted him in September 2024 regarding Mogotsi and subsequently provided him with the businessman's phone number.

MK PartyMP Sibonelo Nomvalo informed the committee that Nkabinde's testimony was contradictory.

"Mr Nkabinde mentions in his statement that he was contacted by General Mkhwanazi in September 2024, who inquired about Brown Mogotsi. He told the General that he knew Mogotsi as someone close to the Minister," stated Nomvalo.

Now he claims he didn't know Mogotsi until the Minister informed him in October or November. There are many inconsistencies in the witness's statements.

Nkabinde acknowledged that his affidavit might include wrong dates. "I apologize to the committee if it's not an accurate version because there was nothing to help me remember," he stated.

He maintained that he had communicated his doubt to the evidence leaders. He also clarified that he thought the meeting between Mchunu and the controversial North West entrepreneur, Mogotsi, took place prior to the September 30 journey to Lusikisiki.

Following the call from General (KZN provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla) Mkhwanazi, if that date is accurate, the meeting with Brown Mogotsi would have taken place prior to that.

Nevertheless, the changing schedule upset a number of MPs. EFF leader Julius Malemaaccused Nkabinde of deceiving Parliament.

"Are we being fed manipulated information right in front of the nation, and we have to accept it?" Malema questioned.

Because you are under oath. Some of this may seem like lies while testifying. The information written here isn't valuable, as it's fabricated.

Malema stated that Nkabinde should retract the affidavit and prepare a new one, saying, "You are intentionally misguiding us. Once you start altering it, it's no longer the original affidavit presented here."

ANC member Mdumiseni Ntuli urged Nkabinde to clarify why he mentioned October and November in his statement.

"Why did you choose October and November?" Ntuli inquired. Nkabinde responded that he had been "guided to make an estimate" since he couldn't access his phone.

Ntuli subsequently verified that, according to Nkabinde's updated statement, "the initial meeting between the Minister and Mr. Brown would have occurred prior to September 30th."

ActionSAMP Dereleen James voiced dissatisfaction, casting doubt on the significance of proceeding with the testimony.

You've provided a sworn statement. You swore this morning. Now you're coming forward and claiming you've fabricated dates," she said. "Are we really expected to investigate further into a statement that isn't truthful?

"We must link the pieces, and when you're there explaining it could have been two months earlier or later, that's not even near," she stated.

David Skosana of the MK Party expressed his disappointment that Nkabinde was uncertain about his own statement.

You are responsible for reading it before signing, as this accurately represents what was discussed with the consultation team," he said. "Now we are speculating about November and December.

EFF's MP Leigh-Ann Mathys cautioned that the inconsistencies constituted perjury. "We should recognize that this is not merely an oversight hearing, it's perjury," she stated.

You even have lawyers, so it was intentional. It also reflects on your credibility. You conducted a full report about the IPIDExecutive director. If you fail to focus on something mentioned in five paragraphs regarding dates, it is deliberate and constitutes perjury.

Nkabinde insisted that he had been honest with the leaders regarding his doubts. "I was truthful and open," he stated.

If there are inconsistencies in the dates, it's because I couldn't get accurate information from my devices, which have been unavailable to me for several months.

Although he apologized, a number of MPs argued that the discrepancies called into question the reliability of his statement and the honesty of the committee's proceedings.

We cannot depend on an inaccurate statement," remarked Nomvalo. "Otherwise, we are transforming this into a discussion program.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has initiated a perjury investigation against Nkabinde at the Cape Town Police station.

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za

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