Thread by @Artii_M

#PPInquiry Former SARS official, Ivan Pillay has officially been sworn in as a witness before the Parliamentary hearings against the Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane. Section 194 Committee starts an hour earlier today.

#PPInquiry

Adv. Bawa: Would you agree that Mr. Gordhan was the primary target of this report?

Pillay: It's difficult to say. I have always felt there was a bigger issue at play. The capture of SARS that is why so much pressure was brought on us at SARS.

...I never felt I was a personal target.

Adv. Bawa: Five findings against you by the PP. These were adverse findings made against you, irrespective of who was the target of the report?

Pilly: Yes, these are very serious allegations

Adv. Bawa: How did this impact you?

#PPInquiry

Pillay: Well, I'd have to go back a bit. Problem started end 2014 when I was suspended from SARS and left SARS. Two attempts to criminally prosecute me. A continuous barrage of stories on Sunday Times, and PP came after this series of attacks since 2014...

...It continues with the current report and the 2nd report. She applied for leave to appeal. It created turmoil at SARS and staff members, up to 2000 staffers left SARS. It caused turmoil amongst our friends and family.

#PPInquiry

Pillay: The investigation was prompted by an article on City Press 10 August 2014, on a rogue unit. Following such an article, the then minister of intelligence asked for the investigation. In the end, the investigation focused on SARS.

#PPInquiry

Adv. Mpofu: After the article you appointed the Sikhakhane report? When, same year?

Pillay: Yes, September 2014

Adv. Mpofu: To investigate Mr Van Loggerenberg?

Pillay: Yes

Adv. Mpofu: Made up of 3 Advocates?  

Pillay: Correct

#PPInquiry

Adv. Mpofu: They found that the activities of the so called rogue unit were unlawful and the IGI report also found, stronger than Sikhakhane, that activities of the unit were criminal. Correct?

Pillay: I believe so

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Adv. Mpofu: It recommended that you, Mr Loggerenberg and Gordhan be charged criminally, when?

Pillay: Yes, I can't remember when.

Adv. Mpofu: You and who, and what were the charges?

Pillay: Can't remember the charges but that I allegedly set up an unlawful unit.

#PPInquiry

Adv. Mpofu: NPA found prima facie case

Pillay: This was the time it was led by Shaun Abrahams, they believed there was a case.

Adv. Mpofu: Let's call it the 3rd agency that found you did something wrong. Is it correct that KPMG found the unit kind of...?

#PPInquiry

Pillay: All the things you're talking about have been disputed and have no value. KPMG claimed it did a documentary analysis only, it said that anything about the law they are not qualified and withrdrew. It was found to be wrong in fact and law, by the courts.

#PPInquiry

Pillay: All these institutions were connected to each other in one way or the other in advancing the same narrative.

Adv. Mpufu: Including the one you appointed?

#PPInquiry

Pillay: I appointed it to investigate Van Loggerenberg, terms of reference. Fact finding request. Adv. Sikhakhane changed terms of reference on his own, used Sunday Times, coincides with new commissioner of SARS. Sikhakhane report is an opinion and I critiqued it.

#PPInquiry  

Adv. Mpofu: Court judgememts you read are opinions

Pillay: No, I'm not a lawyer but judgement stands. If there are issues they must be dealth with through a judicial process. It can not be a mere opinion. It is binding between me and PP.