Johannesburg – ANC MP Vincent Smith has stuck to his defence that a R600 000 payment for his daughter's university fees was a legitimate loan from former Bosasa chief operations officer Angelo Agrizzi and not a bribe meant to influence his parliamentary work.The former right-hand man to now-deceased Bosasa chief executive Gavin Watson alleged Smith had been paid monthly bribes by Bosasa.
The commission's evidence leader, Advocate Viwe Notshe, questioned Smith on the alleged loan agreement between himself and Agrizzi. Smith met with Watson in 2011 at a Sandton hotel in what he described as “an outreach meeting” by Bosasa. Smith said he saw nothing wrong with attending the meeting as he generally met with stakeholders of various companies.
"I could not have influenced the department. Yes, there could have been a perception created but I could not influence the work of the department. I had no fear of any influence or any pressure put on me,“ Smith said. "I did not borrow any money from any company. My loan agreement was with Angelo Agrizzi. Angelo had asked me to help him with an unemployed son and I was able to help him with that. He helped me with my own son. There was a cordial relationship between me and Angelo. My loan was with Angelo. There is no reference to Bosasa," he told the inquiry.
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