The most enduring legacy of South Africa's R50-billion arms deal may turn out to be the terrible injury it has inflicted on our most important democratic institution - Parliament. The resignation of Gavin Woods as chairperson of Parliament's public accounts committee (Scopa) underscores how much damage has been done by an African National Congress government hell-bent on shielding the deal from full public scrutiny.

The sole reason for Scopa's existence is to ensure propriety in government's use of public funds, and has no policy brief. Before the arms deal it had operated in a non-partisan manner under a chairperson chosen from the opposition. Woods, an Inkatha Freedom Party MP of technocratic bent and experience in private sector financial management, was ideal for the job.

Scopa's decision to interrogate the arms deal - and there is no doubt that such a decision was made, whatever the ANC might claim - was the spark for a co-ordinated government onslaught on the committee and its oversight role. Its call for the involvement of the Heath investigating unit was sabotaged by President Thabo Mbeki; senior Cabinet members were mobilised to rubbish its credibility and competence; the Speaker of Parliament was subverted into a tool of the executive; the independently minded head of Scopa's ANC "study group", Andrew Feinstein, was sidelined and replaced by party torpedo Vincent Smith. Assisted by the thuggish Bruce Kannemeyer and other ANC linetoers, Smith's brief was to transfer sole responsibility for the arms probe to extra-parliamentary investigators. This required the marginalisation of Woods, including attacks on his integrity.

Scopa’s "transformation" into an ANC political vehicle and staunch defender of the executive was subsequently underscored by its refusal to examine the controversy, embarrassing to the government, over the contract of Home Affairs director-general Billy Masetlha.

Having served his masters so loyally, Smith now appears anxious to rehabilitate Scopa. Woods's replacement is likely to be an opposition MP, probably drawn from the ranks of Inkatha, while Smith talks of the committee's "renaissance". But this will not happen unless ANC leaders allow the party's MPs to discharge their constitutional duty of holding the executive to account. Without a firm commitment to the independence of Parliament, the same reflex to whip MPs into line will assert itself whenever government leaders feel under threat.

The destruction of Scopa will have sent a clear message to ANC members of all committees in Parliament. It may have permanently weakened the constitutional checks and balances so vital to a functioning democracy.

With acknowledgement to the Mail & Guardian.