'He was aiming for my head': Key state capture witness survives dawn hit

The Hawks are investigating a brazen daylight hit attempt yesterday on a key witness at the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture.

The man is a Transnet security official who appeared before deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo's inquiry identified only as Witness 1.

He survived a hail of bullets after a man on a motorbike opened fire on his car while he was on his way to a Transnet meeting.

The man testified at the commission in August last year. He was identified as Witness 1 because of ongoing serious threats made to his life and those of his colleagues.

Gauteng police spokesperson Kay Makhubela confirmed the attack yesterday.

Witness 1, who worked as a bodyguard for former Transnet CEO Brian Molefe, testified before Zondo that Molefe received wads of cash from the Guptas in a leather backpack.

The man told the Sunday Times he was driving behind a bakkie on Ulster Road in Meredale, south of Johannesburg, just after 6am and was approaching a stop sign when a man on a motorbike parked at the intersection walked up to his car and opened fire.

"There was a white bakkie, an Isuzu, that was moving very slowly in front of me towards the stop sign. And when I accelerated, the bakkie also accelerated, so I couldn't pass it. Immediately I realised there was a motorbike parked on the side near the bush. Then the guy just left his bike and walked towards me and started shooting.

"I think after the first shot, because I was also moving, the bakkie turned left because the [driver of the bakkie] thought I might push him from the back. After that I don't know what happened, I just went blank.

"I think if I was not in motion he was going to finish me because he was aiming for the head. There were eight shots that I could count after that, but the guys from the police forensics picked up four cartridges."

He was not injured in the attack.

He said that since appearing before the commission he had received numerous death threats, and shared some of those he had received. One contains a picture with two bullets, and attached is a message that reads: "Wazi kakhulu [you know too much] . Soon you will sleep in the bed you made including your recruits. Look around you . we command."

In another message allegedly sent on January 13 last year, Witness 1 was told to "value his life" and not appear before the commission. "We are fully aware that you are about to give evidence at the Zondo Commission again and have intimidated other bodyguards to give testimony as well and we are sorry to inform you that you are being used and you are on your own.

"If you love your life, I advise you to just resign and disappear. We have exposed [Transnet's investigating law firm] MNS [Attorneys] and [Transnet chair] Popo [Molefe] is next, and who do you think you are? You are on your own. Stop it with your moronic superman behaviour. We are watching your every move, your conversations. So act sensibly and give this matter your most urgent attention. When we are done with you, your family won't find a piece of you," the text message read.

The day after Witness 1 appeared before the commission, he allegedly received another threatening text message: "So you have decided to go and testify at the Zondo Commission just to please your Master who is your Chairman because we are fully aware he is behind all this. What will become of you? Will he protect you? You have just thrown your whole future away for what and who? Come 2022 there will be a new leadership and you will regret it. Watch your back we are following your every move! Will your chairman save you? Not a smart move!"

Popo Molefe said yesterday that Witness 1 had received a number of death threats over the past 18 months, since the start of criminal and civil action against former members of the Transnet executive.

"We have been aware of a fightback campaign by those involved in the looting of Transnet during the state capture era," Molefe said. "This campaign escalated during the Transnet submissions to the Zondo commission, but has reached a new level with this attempt to take out one of our team members."

The Transnet chair added that there had also been numerous death threats made against other Transnet officials who have testified at the commission and against those who are still due to appear before it.

A source close to multiple investigations into state capture at Transnet blamed a lack of action by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for the attempted hit on Witness 1. He said the evidence stemming from the investigations had been made available to the Hawks and the NPA since 2019.

"The longer it takes for the NPA to do its work, the greater the risk for them. They are witnesses in the criminal case. It is now clear that there is nowhere to hide for the state capture actors and now what remains is to mess up the criminal cases against them."

Witness 1 told the commission that during his tenure as Brian Molefe's bodyguard he drove him to the Guptas' Saxonwold home, their Sahara Computers headquarters in Midrand, and to other meetings with the family at Sandton's Michelangelo Hotel, as well as at Melrose Arch.

The man, who joined Transnet in 1989, testified that Molefe would "be carrying a light brown leather backpack" to his meetings at the Gupta residence which he had seen stuffed with cash. He testified that Molefe often tasked him with depositing cash into several bank accounts. Molefe has previously denied these claims.

Makhubela said a case of attempted murder had been opened "in relation to a shooting incident on Saturday morning in Meredale ... The motive for the shooting is unclear at this stage while police are calling for anyone who may have witnessed the incident or have information that could lead to the apprehension of the suspects, to urgently contact Mondeor SAPS."

Hawks spokesperson Col Katlego Mogale confirmed the case had been transferred to the unit.

Public enterprises spokesperson Richard Mantu said: "The bullying and threatening tactics of those that destroyed our SOEs will not intimidate us.

"We will fight corruption and state capture and those that were complicit in destabilising our SOEs with the same passion [with] which we fought the apartheid system."