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Former Minister Malusi Gigaba has labelled his estranged wife, Norma Mngoma, as an ‘accomplished’ liar and disputed her affidavit completely. In testimony at the State Capture Commission, Gigaba accused Mngoma of lying extensively and even misrepresenting their divorce to Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. He also claimed that someone had coached Mngoma and wrote her affidavit in such a way as ‘to put in a sequence that makes sense, but it doesn’t make sense’.
According to a report on the IoL site, Gigaba told the commission that Mngoma approached him in January this year and made several propositions. He said she asked him to finalize their divorce and agree on a settlement amount because ‘she cannot walk away with nothing’. She also allegedly asked him to withdraw the criminal case against her in which she damaged his friend's vehicle. Gigaba said she told him that she could withdraw from giving evidence at the State Capture Commission if he wanted. ‘I told her that the commission didn't just pick on her. She did an interview on eNCA and offered herself to the commission,’ he said.
Dealing with Mngoma’s various allegations made at the commission, Gigaba said it was a ‘ridiculous’ notion that he would rush to the Gupta residence before and after every Parliament sitting to inform them of the goings-on. According to the IoL report, he also denied that Ajay Gupta told him about his ministerial appointments before it happened and denied he was informed of any Cabinet changes or changes at state-owned enterprises in advance. Gigaba did not dispute that he knew the Gupta family or that he visited their Saxonwold compound, but he maintained that he only visited them for social and cultural events. He also denied Mngoma’s allegation that Ajay Gupta visited Gigaba at their home to discuss Transnet and Eskom tenders. Gigaba conceded that Ajay Gupta gave his first-born son a gold necklace and other gifts but denied that the family went to the Guptas to specifically show them the child. He said the Guptas gave him the gifts for his son when he attended a function at their home.