Parliament (Sapa) - Parliament's watchdog public accounts committee (Scopa) was on Wednesday unable to bridge the gulf between members on the interpretation of a resolution to conduct a multi-agency probe into the controversial R43-billion arms deal.

Members agreed, however, that their divergent views should not hamper the work of the committee or impact on the investigation. Scopa chairman Dr Gavin Woods recommended a work group study the transcripts of Wednesday's plenary meeting, and, at a final session, try to find an amicable solution.

"It is unfortunate that we can't all fall behind one interpretation, but the truth is we are divided on this issue." He said the committee should exercise caution and not try to "bulldoze a decision through".

"It augurs well for the future of the committee . . . that we are not wrestling each other on the floor."

The disagreement revolves around interpretations of a committee resolution adopted by the national assembly recommending a multi-agency probe into the deal.

ANC members on the committee believe that Scopa did not single out any particular agency for inclusion in the proposed investigation - a view that contradicts Woods and opposition parties' interpretation that the Heath Special Investigating Unit be included.

The resolution called for an exploratory meeting on the proposed probe to include the auditor-general, public protector, investigating directorate: serious economic offences and the Heath unit.

Woods came under fire from ANC member Bruce Kannemeyer for not consulting members of a Scopa sub-group before making public statements. He said Woods - an Inkatha Freedom Party MP - had also not recorded or compiled minutes of the meeting between the committee and representatives of the four investigating agencies, held in Pretoria on November 13 last year.

The sub-committee was tasked to co-ordinate Scopa's views on the probe. Kannemeyer said Woods integrity was not under question, but the committee should respect the position that different interpretations existed.

Woods said his interpretation of the committee's standpoint was that the members wanted all four agencies to be part of the investigation. He had made his views very clear before and after the meeting of November 13, and no member of the committee had at any time disagreed with that opinion.

"So, on a seemingly daily basis, across national television, radio stations and newspapers, I defended the Scopa position as I believed it to be. Not one Scopa member, at any time, expressed any disagreement; to me directly, through party political channels, or through the media.

"Surely such silence amounts to more than tacit or inferred agreement," he said.

Woods said that all the participants at the meeting, with the exception of ANC members, had subsequently supported his interpretation of events. He also questioned why it had taken until mid-January for those members to voice their disagreement.

Deputy President Jacob Zuma - in a letter dated January 19, and addressed to Woods - criticised the committee for suggesting Heath should be involved in the probe. The committee is expected to debate its response to Zuma's letter at a meeting next week.

ANC Scopa members also agreed they would support the inclusion of the special investigating unit in the probe, without Judge Willem Heath as its head. The Constitutional Court found in late November last year that it was unconstitutional for a judge to head a special investigating unit.

President Thabo Mbeki, in a televised broadcast on January 19, refused to issue a proclamation to include the unit in the investigation. United Democratic Movement public accounts spokesman Gerhard Koornhof asked for a discussion on its inclusion to be put on the committee's agenda.

Earlier at the meeting, the auditor-general's office tried to assure Scopa that the investigation was on track. Deputy Auditor-General Terrence Nombembe said an investigating team had been appointed, and begun its work.

The team comprises three members from the auditor-general's office, five from the investigating directorate: serious economic offences, and two senior investigators from the public protector's office.

Nombembe said the investigating team had been allocated a budget of R13.5-million. An amount of R3.35-million, initially allocated to the Heath unit, would be transferred to the remaining three agencies. He said the AG's office - which will co-ordinate the investigating team - was comfortable the Heath unit's responsibilities would be covered by the new team.

"With regard to funding and responsibility, nothing will fall between the cracks," Nombembe said. It would also hire - on a contract basis - outside expertise, including auditors, forensic accountants, attorneys and naval and aeronautical experts.

The costs of the contracts were included in the team's budget. The investigating team will report back to the committee on the progress of its investigation in July this year. 

With acknowledgement to Sapa and WOZA.