Thread by @ermbates

[SEVERAL MINUTES AGO] #StateCaptureInquiry The Chairperson says, "During the week I got a report that somebody apparently fired a shot through the window of one of the offices of the commission. It must have been in the evening and a bullet was found in one of the offices..."

#StateCaptureInquiriy Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo says, "Of course, over the weekend, there was a break in at the offices of the commission. The law enforcement agencies are investigating these matters."

#StateCaptureInquiry "We don't know if it's just ordinary criminality or whether it's much more than that. Of course, in the break in a computer and a monitor was stolen," continues Zondo during an address prior to the appearance of today's witnesses.

[EARLIER] #StateCaptureInquiry Zondo: But I just want to say that if anybody is trying to intimidate the commission into not doing its job properly they must know that the commission will not be intimidated.

#StateCaptureInquiry Zondo praises the men and women who keep the @StateCaptureCom going, noting the hours they work during evenings and weekends. "I certainly will not be intimidated by anybody into not finishing the work in the way it should be finished," insists Zondo.

#StateCaptureInquiry Zondo thought it important to make that clear, adding he thought it was important for the nation to know "we will not be deterred" in completing the work of the @StateCaptureCom. The day's proceedings follow (details below).

[AMENDED] #StateCaptureInquiry Zondo notes both the Speaker of Parliament Thandi Modise and NCOP Chairperson Amos Masondo agreed to testify when approached last year, and did not need to be compelled. He thanks them for their cooperation and appearance to assist the commission.

Modise details certain highlights of her career, including her tenure as Premier of the North West and position as Speaker in Parliament. The evidence leader asks her if she thinks @ParliamentofRSA fulfilled its accountability and oversight roles as defined in the Constitution.

#StateCaptureInquiry Modise speaks of how oversight is set out, then raises committees in @ParliamentofRSA and their powers. "No committee actually has an excuse for not asking pointed questions, for not investigating, for not calling for witnesses, for not summoning people."

[MINUTES AGO] #StateCaptureInquiry Modise: It is a pity that we had to wake up when the issues of allegations of state capture were there because THESE are the powers of the committees.

Modise says "the House [of Parliament] has further powers" including "to enable members to ask questions, to call for snap debates, to call for motions, to actually pointedly put the executive on the spot" and soon adds it is important to "capacitate" MPs to ask questions.

[EARLIER AND PARAPHRASED] #StateCaptureInquiry Modise says when allegations of state capture were raised and "came out into the public" then @ParliamentofRSA "woke up" and then tasked committees with looking at the allegations and following up pointedly on certain those issues.

[SUMMARISED] #StateCaptureInquiry Modise perceives South Africa's @ParliamentofRSA initially focused on creating new laws (so, post-1994) and the emergence of state capture allegations marked a shift to interrogating how laws (or, their objectives) are or aren't fulfilled.

#StateCaptureInquiry Modise: Once you make laws you must have the means and personnel to execute, then you give attention to those who are meant to implement the laws created.

#StateCaptureInquiry Modise continues, "And I'm saying that perhaps the wake up was that it is no longer so important to run and make more new laws, it is more important for us to police what we have already put out there."

#StateCaptureInquiry "It is more important for us to query an executive member [...] to follow through if what they have promised the public out there [...] has this person has followed through [...] what are the results on the ground," she continues.

[COMMENT] The current sitting at the #StateCaptureInquiry @StateCaptureCom considers parliamentarians' solemn duties to ensure accountability and execute oversight. You can follow proceedings on television, radio and via live feeds (see below).