Marthinus van Schalkwyk, the Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister, could be called to testify for the state in the Roodefontein corruption trial which resumes next Monday.
”The possibility exists that Van Schalkwyk will be called to testify on behalf of the state,” said JD Kotze, the lead investigator for the state on Monday.
Kotze would not confirm or deny whether Van Schalkwyk had been subpoenaed to testify in the trial of his former politician partners, former Western Cape premier Peter Marais and former development planning MEC David Malatsi.
Marais and Malatsi will be defending themselves against claims they took kickbacks for the New National Party — which Van Schalkwyk leads — from Italian Riccardo Agusta in return for controversial approval of the R500-million Roodefontein golf estate development.
Marais and Malatsi are accused of taking hundreds of thousands of rands in bribes to smooth the way for provincial approval of the development at Plettenberg Bay.
Marais has claimed repeatedly that Van Schalkwyk knew about the money right from the start, which Van Schalkwyk denies.
Kotze said he will call over 50 witnesses at the trial, which resumes after initially being heard in George late last year.
During two weeks of testimony, the George Regional Court heard apparently contradictory evidence from the consultants for the project, who maintained that the project would have benefited the environment, and environmental authorities in the Western Cape who expressed concern that it could damage ecologically sensitive fynbos.
In November, Van Schalkwyk indicated that he was prepared to testify.
Meanwhile, Kotze confirmed that Agusta would not be called to testify.
In Agusta’s plea bargain agreement with the Scorpions in October last year, in which he agreed to pay a R1-million fine, a paragraph was included recording that the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions ”does not require [Agusta’s] further involvement in any way in any continuing or further prosecution or investigation concerning or arising from his relations with Marais and Malatsi”.
According to Kotze the state was concluding its preparations for the case, which resumes on June 21 in the Bellville Regional Court. – Sapa