THE offices of public protector Selby Baqwa and national director of public prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka have dismissed as untrue reports that they attended a top-level meeting last year with African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni to discuss how to respond to calls for a probe into the R43bn arms deal.  

Noseweek reported last week that Baqwa, Ngcuka and Yengeni were among those who held a meeting between Christmas and New Year at Yengeni's home to discuss the recommendation of the parliamentary public accounts that an investigation be conducted into the arms deal.  

Baqwa's spokesman Nicolette Teichmann said there was "absolutely no truth" in the claim that Baqwa was at such a meeting. He viewed the report as "defamatory in the extreme". "Baqwa does not even know where Yengeni lives."  

The accounts committee had recommended that auditor-general Shauket Fakie, Baqwa, Ngcuka and the Heath special investigating unit be involved.  

The executive subsequently excluded the Heath unit from the probe. Fakie, Baqwa and Ngcuka continued with the investigations. Yengeni is among those being probed, but he has publicly denied being involved in any irregularity.  

Ngcuka's spokesman Sipho Ngwema described the report as "lies" and "nonsense". He said the report seemed to be an attempt to discredit the investigation that was in progress, as the Heath unit had been excluded.  

However, the investigation was proceeding "extremely well".  

The three recently indicated that their probe would be concluded in July, and that a report would be handed to Parliament.  

With acknowledgement to Farouk Chothia and Business Day.