At the beginning of his testimony on Wednesday, Booysen said the Panday case was the beginning of the end to his “unblemished” career in the police force.
Booysen said he confronted Giyapersad about this at a meeting that was co-ordinated by then KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Mmamonnye Ngobeni. A “heated exchange” ensued, Booysen said. Booysen recounted a similar meeting which was called by Ngobeni at her office. According to Booysen, he was introduced to Panday and Giyapersad at the meeting.
Ngobeni had been implicated in an independent forensic investigation report compiled by PriceWaterhouseCoopers. According to the report, Panday had paid R30 000 to throw a birthday bash for Ngobeni’s husband at Umhlanga Rocks. Ngobeni reportedly later denied this, alleging that while Panday may have done some of the party planning through one of his businesses, she had paid for it.