THE State Capture Commission of Inquiry has dismissed an application by former spy boss Arthur Fraser to cross-examine witnesses who implicated him in wrongdoing.
This after Fraser earlier applied to cross-examine four witnesses who exposed the looting of intelligence coffers, and the politicisation of the State Security Agency (SSA) to serve former president Jacob Zuma’s personal interests.
In his application, Fraser claimed that acting chief justice Raymond Zondo did not allow him to present his version or cross-examine witnesses who implicated him in alleged wrongdoing.
Last month, he further objected to Zondo’s nomination as the next chief justice, saying he was not “fit and proper” to hold the position.
He accused Zondo of lacking objectivity and integrity.
But Zondo said on Wednesday that Fraser had failed to comply with regulations set out for the type of application he sought.
“I can see no reason why it is in the public interest to grant the right to the cross-examination of witnesses. It stands to be dismissed and is so dismissed,” said Zondo.
Zondo said Fraser’s application had failed on several grounds.
He said Fraser declined a request by the commission’s investigators to co-operate in an investigation, but went public saying that his information would blow the lid on three arms of the state.
Zondo said if Fraser had evidence of wrongdoing, he should have brought it forward a long time ago rather than wait until the last minute.
He added that Fraser did not follow up on a March 2021 agreement with two acting directors-general of the SSA to provide him with the documents he wanted to be declassified.
“I’m baffled about why Fraser forged ahead with an order to compel the SSA to grant him requested documents even after an email was sent stating that the agency was willing to provide the documents if he complied with chapter 27 of the Intelligence Services Act,” he said.
“The reason the applicant was not furnished with the documents he wanted is that he failed to comply with the regulations he had agreed to comply with and he has failed to do what is necessary for him to obtain the documents.”
The commission is expected to submit its report to President Cyril Ramaphosa by the end of the year.
The submission was initially set down for September, but a three-month extension was granted.
- Inside Politics
