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Cape Town - The North Gauteng High Court has ruled that Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba lied under oath when he testified during his tenure as home affairs minister in a case filed by a company that wanted to open a private immigration terminal at the country’s biggest airport.
“The minister deliberately told untruths under oath,” Judge Neil Tuchten said in his ruling, which was circulated by the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, on Wednesday shortly before Gigaba was due to deliver the annual budget.
“The minister has committed a breach of the Constitution so serious that I could characterise it as a violation.”
Fireblade Aviation, which is controlled by the Oppenheimer family, filed a lawsuit against Gigaba alleging that he had reneged on a pledge to delegate officials to staff their immigration and customs facility that was to be developed at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport on land rented from arms manufacturer Denel.
Gigaba denied ever approving the terminal. The court ruled in Fireblade’s favour. Gigaba said he stood by his testimony and was consulting his lawyers about the ruling.
“The decision of the court is being challenged,” he told journalists in Cape Town before delivering his Budget Speech.
“There is an appeal. At no stage was there an agreement with Fireblade. Legally you cannot have a private terminal for a family.”
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