The cabinet should be rejoicing over the unfolding revelations of apparent bribery and corruption concerning the arms deal.

Why? Because given the clauses allowing it to cancel contracts where bribery and corruption have occurred, it will give the cabinet the opportunity to pull out of at least some of this increasingly disastrous deal.

In what ways is it disastrous? Its costs, originally less than R30bn, have gone through the roof. There is no doubt it will reach R100bn and it could be twice that. Its benefits, in terms of foreign investment and jobs, are trickling in very, very slowly. They will be a mere fraction of the original guesses of R104bn and 65000 respectively.

The arms package still might be worthwhile if there was a demonstrated need for hi-tech vessels and aircraft on order. But the size and composition of the arms package was never properly justified and is entirely inappropriate to SA's security needs.

With acknowledgement to Geoff Harris and Business Day.