Zondo commission hears how SSA infiltrated media, bribed journalists Updated
Gaopalelwe Phalaetsile
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The commission of inquiry into state capture has heard how several journalists, including those working for African News Agency (ANA), were allegedly paid millions of rands as part of a bribery operation by the State Security Agency (SSA).
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On Friday, a witness known only as ‘Ms. K’ and who is an investigator at the agency, continued her testimony.
She told the commission that their investigation found evidence of at least R48 million was paid from the SSA under ‘Project Wave’.
Wave s purpose was to bribe media houses and journalists to counter negative publicity against former president Jacob Zuma.
Media houses rebuffed spies or demanded too much money, says ‘Ms K’ on ‘Project Wave’ News24 Wire
Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. Picture: Refilwe Modise One of Project Wave’s ‘challenges’ was listed as the recruitment of media houses to work with SSA operatives.
Many of the media houses that State Security Agency (SSA) operatives tried to recruit for its “Project Wave” either wanted too much money, or were alert to such approaches and rebuffed them, the commission of inquiry on state capture heard on Friday.
Evidence leader Advocate Paul Pretorius said this was revealed in a progress report found in an SSA safe which listed its “challenges” and “achievements” under the project.
Every time there is a media report of an assassination, the State Security Agency (SSA) officials in charge of the armoury pray it is not from a bullet fired from one of the firearms supposed to be under their control, testified Ms K (name withheld) before the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture on Friday.
It has a been a week of startling testimony before presiding Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, revealing to what extent national security was undermined by Zuma enablers such as former SSA Deputy Director-Generals Sonto Kudjoe, Thulani Dlomo (also ambassador to Japan), and former Director-General Arthur Fraser.
Mahlobo at centre of SSA corruption, Zondo commission hears Updated
Gaopalelwe Phalaetsile
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The commission of inquiry into state capture has heard details of former state security minister David Mahlobo direct involvement in unlawful activities at the State Security Agency (SSA).
Photo: GCIS
She is an employee of the agency, whose identity needs to be protected, as she is part of the investigations into corruption at the agency.
Her role at the commission was to confirm the testimony of a ‘Mr Y’, who is also involved in the conversation but just came out of a coma and is in no condition to appear before the commission.
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