Sodi, who is the CEO of BlackHead Consulting, which was awarded a tender worth R255 million in a joint venture with Diamond Hill Trading, says one of his business interests includes property development and Mokhesi approached him as a potential investor and nothing else. 

Sodi's testimony before the State Capture Commission of Inquiry earlier on Tuesday comes a day after Mokhesi could not respond to questions as to why Sodi invested R650 000 in his house just months after Mokhesi’s department awarded the joint venture a contract to the tune of R255 million.

OFM News earlier reported that Mokhesi could also not answer why a contract between himself and Sodi included a secrecy clause, indicating the property investment may not be disclosed to third parties.

Responding to questions posed by Advocate Paul Pretorius, Sodi, however, maintained that he is involved with 20 or more properties and that going into a joint investment with Mokhesi was no different.

Responding to questions as to what made the deal with Mokhesi of interest, Sodi confirmed that he could have purchased the residential property alone, but there are certain areas he is not familiar with and Mokhesi's proposal presented him with a profitable opportunity with a partner who not only resides in the city but would live at the property invested in.

The businessman who also stands accused of making a R600 000 payment towards the purchase of a Range Rover for the department's former director, Thabane Zulu, told the Commission in August that the multimillion-rand asbestos project was set to unfold in two phases with the first one entailing the audit of houses and the second the removal thereof, which they planned to sub-contract as they did not have accreditation to remove any asbestos material.

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has meanwhile in her investigative report indicated major flaws with the contract awarded to this joint venture indicating that the department failed to follow proper procurement processes.

OFM News