Gigaba lied about Fireblade deal, Oppenheimers tell MPs

Source: The Business Day, 31/10/2018

Oppenheimers ‘astounded’ when Gigaba later changed his mind, denying
he had ever approved the private terminal at OR Tambo International
On Tuesday, the Oppenheimers insisted they obtained all the necessary
approvals to operate a private terminal at OR Tambo International
Airport and dismissed claims they had bribed senior government
officials ahead of the deal being finalised.
The Oppenheimers were summoned to appear before parliament’s home
affairs portfolio committee to explain how their firm, Fireblade
Aviation, came to operate a private terminal at OR Tambo airport
without an official agreement granting them permission to do so.
Their appearance before the parliamentary committee got off to a rowdy
start when members of Black First Land First (BLF) �` an organisation
that describes itself as a black consciousness, pan-Africanist and
revolutionary socialist political party �` led by Andile Mngxitama
attempted to manhandle billionaire business person Nicky Oppenheimer
and his son, Jonathan.
`Shut down Fireblade … the Oppenheimers are a criminal family … they
buy the ANC, now they want to buy this parliament,` Mngxitama shouted.
The BLF then proceeded to lay charges of fraud, bribery and corruption
against Nicky and Jonathan Oppenheimer, arguing that they had
`illegally acquired an international airport terminal inside the OR
Tambo International Airport`.
Responding to questions from MPs, Nicky Oppenheimer said home affairs
minister Malusi Gigaba had lied to parliament when he stated he had
not approved the family’s private terminal in early 2016.
He said he took offence at insinuations that the family had paid a
bribe to obtain the approvals. He said Gigaba had said at the time he
was delighted to approve the terminal, but the family was `astounded`
when he later changed his mind, denying he had ever approved it.
The matter eventually ended up in court, where a judge found Gigaba
had lied. Gigaba lost his appeal to a full bench of the high court‚ as
well as an appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal‚ and has decided to
take the matter to the Constitutional Court.
Fireblade director Manne Dipico, a former ANC MP and Northern Cape
premier, said he was disappointed that his `comrade [Gigaba] had lied
to the committee`. He said Gigaba had `approved [the private
terminal], finished and klaar… Maybe he needs assistance
[remembering],` said Dipico.
Jonathan Oppenheimer said the terminal was not intended for the sole
use of the family. `It was meant to be a gateway to SA … offering a
high-quality, efficient service ... Since inception, including
domestic and international operations, we have had [about 14,000]
movements �` the vast majority of those have been domestic movements
and the family itself has been responsible for 5% of those movements,
so [the terminal] is not for exclusive use by the family,` he said.
Committee chair Hlomani Chauke expressed concern that there appeared
to be no proper agreement for the operation of the private terminal.
He insisted that all documents regarding the approvals should be made
available to the committee soon.