Weekend Thing: Agrizzi's final testimony explained, Batohi hits the ground running

[Click here for the web version of this email]( [Daily Maverick]( Saturday, 2 February 2019 [Prison Rules]( “I couldn’t understand why he would turn around and say to Brian Biebuyck: ‘Tell Agrizzi we don’t want a funeral very soon.’” Angelo Agrizzi's testimony this week at the Zondo Commission In sum Angelo Agrizzi's testimony has named many names, thrown several under the bus and, in the end, prompted Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo to recommend an [immediate investigation]( by authorities into Bosasa's prison-food tenders. On Tuesday, Agrizzi's final day on the stand did however serve to provide some splashback against the whistleblower. Senior Advocate Paul Pretorius played a short recording of Agrizzi talking with the Watson family. In it, an [ugly, shameless torrent](of racist epithets issued forth. Pretorius summed it best as “nakedly racist, grossly offensive and difficult to describe in words the (effects) of what is said, to the individuals (mentioned) and to the country at large.” Agrizzi had no defence, admitting that he was, in fact, a racist. But the Bosasa scandal was not quite done. Game of Chicken Andries van Tonder, the Bosasa heavy who filmed the 'oven' cash-counting video, took to the inquiry. Van Tonder explained the growing paranoia within Bosasa over a possible investigation and lawsuit against the company. In response, van Tonder explained, Bosasa began hoarding cash, deleting records and, in one scheme, [ordering "chicken"]( - a Bosasa code word for cash - from company Equal Trade. A non-VAT item, the "chicken" would be returned to Bosasa, as cash, less a 12% commission. Why should you care? The Bosasa component of the Zondo inquiry has seen some explosive testimony, primarily from Agrizzi. If nothing else materialises from the commission, the Agrizzi files have revealed a gaping chasm in governance on a front that does not even smell faintly of Saonwold and the Gupta rot. If you thought state capture stopped and ended with Zuma, the [corruption of Bosasa]( has clearly illustrated how so many high-level government officials, at least allegedly, were at their corrupt tables. — [This weekend we're watching]( An adaptive Xbox controller empowers these youngsters and levels a playing field previously contingent on fast reflexes and agile hands. [Tough Tekkies]( 1 The number of weekdays spent in office by Director of Public Prosecutions, Shamila Batohi. First Ascent One could say [Shamila Batohi]( has some serious shoes to fill, but that would be misleading, given that she is effectively replacing South Africa's emptiest suit, Shaun Abrahams. But the task that lies before her is monumental. New Notifications [Batohi's office has been plagued]( by obstruction and outright interference when governmental bigwigs have been placed in the NDPP's crosshairs. The Estina Dairy failed prosecution was but the latest in a series of failures that Batohi will be expected to avoid going forward. On Friday, Batohi announced that she was putting those people pursuing corrupt activities "on notice". If any of them ever see a day in prison, we will know for sure whether this warning was serious. — [UA-Equality]( The UAE's annual gender equality awards should be a positive testament to progressiveness in a region dominated by significant inequality issues. The country's 2018 Gender Balance Index awards went entirely to men. But it wasn't entirely uniform. One of the award winners opted to eschew the traditional white garment and wore a daring shade of grey. — Key Reading [Global alt-right exploiting SA’s divisions and history]( By Marianne Thamm A steady stream of transnational right-wing populists and nationalists has trekked to South Africa in recent years hoping to leverage the country’s fraught racial history for their own global aims. They have found local friends who appear willing to allow these grifters to exploit South Africa’s past and its current high rate of crime and violence. Sea Breeze Most of the world's oxygen comes from the ocean (70%), not trees. [Free and Fair Elections need a Free and Fair Press]( Zimbabwe, Nigeria and the Congo are all facing a constitutional crisis. Their media is hamstrung by threats and oppressive regimes. South Africa still has a free press; let's keep it that way. [Sign up]( to become a Maverick Insider so that we can continue to do our jobs. Weekend reading [When policy proxy battles and ideological contestation collide, the DA splutters amid its own messiness]( [When policy proxy battles and ideological contestation collide, the DA splutters amid its own messiness]( BY Marianne Merten [Suzuki Jimny 1.5 GLX AllGrip: A baby 4×4 with a brave heart]( [Suzuki Jimny 1.5 GLX AllGrip: A baby 4×4 with a brave heart]( BY Deon Schoeman [Ramaphosa, one year in: much consultation, still not enough implementation]( [Ramaphosa, one year in: much consultation, still not enough implementation]( BY Rebecca Davis [FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO A FRIEND]( Copyright © 2019 Daily Maverick, All rights reserved. You are receiving this mail because you are awesome and on the Daily Maverick Afternoon Thing subscriber list. Want to advertise in this mail? [Talk to us.](mailto:advertise@dailymaverick.co.za?subject=Advertising%20query%3A%20Afternoon%20Thing) [Getting too many emails from us? Manage your preferences]( | [Unsubscribe](