Following former president Jacob Zuma's commencement of a 15-month jail term for contempt of court, Business Day legal writer Erin Bates speaks about the story on LBC London.

Jacob Zuma goes to jail for contempt | LBC Radio interview with Erin Bates

LBC Radio's Nick Ferrari spoke to South African journalist Erin Bates on Friday, 16 July 2021. They discussed more than a week of escalating civil unrest in South Africa, which by later the same day had led to 212 confirmed deaths, 131 of which were suspected murders. The country's president dispatched 25,000 troops to support police in quelling looting and violence that cost the country billions in rand. Ferrari has some 1.5 million weekly listeners.

25,000 soldiers dispatched to quell in civil unrest | LBC Radio interview with Erin Bates

US secretary of state Antony Blinken delivers opening remarks at a "strategic dialogue" in South Africa during an Africa trip to strengthen relationships on the continent. He next visits the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. According to Blinken, who met with South Africa's minister of international relation and cooperation Dr Naledi Pandor, the agenda for the talks was agreed upon by the countries' presidents.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken's opening remarks

South Africa's minister of international relation and cooperation Dr Naledi Pandor welcomes US secretary of state Antony Blinken to a "strategic dialogue" in Pretoria, South Africa during his Africa trip to strengthen relationships on the continent. Blinken next visits the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda.

International relations and cooperation minister Naledi Pandor's opening remarks

A friend of mine asked for a reading of some creative writing I penned on 11 September 2022 as a tribute to heartbreak and healing. It's also a manifesto on love. I thought it might make for interesting listening. So, here it is.

The discovery of self | Creative writing reading

Listen to the audio played at the Commission of Inquiry Into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud on Thursday, 24 January 2019. In the recording - said to be dated 8 May 2016 - Bosasa CEO Gavin Watson tells Linda Mit and Angelo Agrizzi what he, Watson, intends to say when he speaks to then President Jacob Zuma. Agrizzi alleged a meeting between Watson and Zuma then followed.

LISTEN: Bosasa's CEO on talking to Zuma

General Godfrey Lebeya, Head of the Hawks, is reportedly seized with a Transnet complaint. Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwane Mulaudzi reports Lebeya wants answers on why chartered accountant Roberto Gonsalves has not yet received feedback on a complaint he laid with the Hawks in 2017. 

Gonsalves testified on the complaint at the State Capture Inquiry on Friday, 17 May 2019. He told Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo he had filed the complaint regarding a "relocation" project, purportedly moving locomotive plants from Pretoria to Durban. Gupta-linked firm BEX is said to have R67-million plus VAT in connection with the R647-million deal.

LISTEN: Hawks Head demands answers on Transnet complaint

According to Koroneka CEO Babadi Tlatsana, she recorded this audio on 20 December 2016 during a meeting with then SA Express General Manager Brian van Wyk. 

Listen, as they discuss money to be paid for the ANC's 104th birthday celebration, and alleged kickbacks to two Cabinet ministers, then North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo and senior officials in the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Development. They include the Head of Department and the Chief Financial Officer.

Note: This audio was supplied to the press by the Commission of Inquiry Into Allegations of State Capture on Saturday, 22 June 2019.

LISTEN: Brian van Wyk on money to the ANC, ministers and Supra Mahumapelo

Listen to a recording of the then Head of State Protocol Bruce Koloane calling then Warrant Officer Thabo Ntshisi at the Air Force Command Post in early April 2013 about the "flight clearance request by the Indians" at Waterkloof Air Force Base for later that month. "The challenge is I can't put all the detail I am giving you in writing," says Koloane. He later describes the matter as a "unique" case.

Ntshisi tells Koloane Waterkloof only accommodates Heads of State and deputies. Koloane can then be heard telling Ntshisi, "I think there are four or five ministers involved." Koloane later claims then Transport Minister Ben Martins called him into a meeting "wherein he indicated that he has been given instructions by the President to assist these people [...] the people who are doing this are actually the Gupta family" .

During his testimony at the State Capture Inquiry on Tuesday, 9 July 2019 Koloane said he "erred" in using the names of the President and two ministers to exert pressure on officials to process the request. He testified he wanted a positive result, as India was a strategic partner to South Africa and Koloane wanted the High Commissioner of Indian to see Koloane as someone who could get things done. Koloane says he never received instructions from the then President Jacob Zuma or the two ministers.

Note: This audio was supplied to the press by the Commission of Inquiry Into Allegations of State Capture on Wednesday, 10 July 2019.

Ambassador Bruce Koloane calls the air command post in 2013

The audio recordings in this clip aired at the Commission of Inquiry Into Allegations of State Capture on Tuesday, 9 July 2019 when Ambassador Bruce Koloane, former Head of State Protocol, testified for a second day. This audio includes Colonel Christine Anderson telling then Warrant Officer Thabo Ntshisi, All the calls are from early April 2013. 

Anderson tells Ntshisi that Koloane called her and said, "You said no to him." Ntshisi tells Anderson, "No, I said to him ee want to confirm who is the senior person on board." The two discuss the matter further, and Anderson says the Indian delegation are allowed to land. 

"Our number one knows about this visit," says Anderson. She also tells Ntshisi that this is  "political" and that "I think that you can allow them" and "they must just follow the procedures and they must just tell you who is the senior minister". She notes that this is a private visit, and "if DIRCO approves the visit, then it is not a problem".

Note: This audio was supplied to the press by the Commission of Inquiry Into Allegations of State Capture on Wednesday, 10 July 2019.

"Our number one knows about this visit," says Colonel Christine Anderson

This audio recording aired at the Commission of Inquiry Into Allegations of State Capture on Thursday, 29 August 2019. Neo Solutions director Vivien Natasen tabled the audio to support his submission that he thought monies paid from Koroneka Trading and Projects to his company Neo Solutions was from a legitimate source.

Natasen testified on almost R10-million deposited into a Neo Solutions account. Natasen asserted he and Van Wyk were going to partner on a farming venture, and provided documents to that effect to the State Capture team. In early 2016 he provided R300,000 cash from the money to Van Wyk.

"But Brian, when you asked me to help you out with this, you told me it wasn't related to your work at SA Express," Vivien Natasen of Neo Solutions tells Brian van Wyk, former manager at SA Express in a recorded phone call. 

"I thought it was a North West project. It wasn't an SA Express project, right?" continues Natasen. Van Wyk informs Natasen that he may appear as a state witness in an anticipated press report. Van Wyk says, "I am apologising for getting you into this situation." 

Natasen, during re-examination at the inquiry, said he did not benefit and did nothing wrong. He repeatedly mentions helping Van Wyk in the call. "There’s been no intention or knowledge the funds were not from a reputable source at the time," said.

He asks Van Wyk in the audio, "If this is a clean transaction [...] why did it go off the rails?"

"I did everything cleanly," Neo Solution's Vivien Natasen tells Brian van Wyk

Freelance broadcast journalist based in Cape Town, South Africa. Armed with colourful language and a feather duster.

Erin Bates

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