Controversial German businessman Jurgen Harksen dropped a bombshell at the Desai Commission on Thursday, detailing regular meetings and donations of more than R1-million to the Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape.
He told the commission, headed by Judge Siraj Desai, that Cape Town mayor Gerald Morkel and former Western Cape finance MEC Leon Markovitz had considered him ”a very good friend of the party.”
”They told me I am a friend of Cape Town and will be a friend of Cape Town for many years.”
Meanwhile, Judge Siraj ordered that Harksen be placed
under protective custody after he expressed fears about his safety.
The rest of Harksen’s testimony has been postponed to May 28, when he is expected to complete his evidence-in-chief.
Harksen is being held in Goodwood prison, but his advocate Peter Mihalik asked that he be put in a witness protection programme instead.
Desai ordered that ”all necessary steps” be taken to ensure Harksen’s safety, that he be immediately placed under protective custody, and that this order be brought to the attention of the ministers of justice, safety and security and correctional
services.
In his explosive testimony, Harksen said Markovitz had first approached him at the end of 2000 regarding a meeting.
The businessman who is facing a string of fraud charges in South Africa and Germany also detailed how Morkel had helped Harksen’s father-in-law sort out a problem with a visitor’s visa.
Harksen said he was surprised by a message from his secretary regarding a meeting with Markovitz and a subsequent letter stating that he had reserved parking next to Morkel’s car at the provincial government building. – Sapa