Statement Issued By Bantu Holomisa, MP
UDM President

The UDM is disgusted by media reports (Burger of 17 October) that Cabinet is supervising the writing of the arms deal investigation report, and have already asked for a redraft.

This is yet another example of government interference in the process of investigating the multi-billion rand arms deal. The UDM repeatedly urged that the investigation should be independent of government, exactly to avoid these types of problems. Instead we again witness Parliament and its Public Accounts committee being ignored, as if the public representatives of the South African people are not entitled to protect and uphold their interests. Once again ANC interests are placed before the interests of the country.

It is ridiculous that the very structure that is being investigated can supervise the drafting of the final report, and actually demand a redraft. We can only assume that the report makes findings which are not politically expedient for the ANC, and that the report is now getting the same treatment that the crime statistics and the MRC HIV/AIDS report got. It is truly disgusting to watch the ANC's increasing disdain for independent and critical thought; in this regard they behave no differently than the Apartheid regime.

Democracy is on a slippery slope when facts are being suppressed, and when accountability and transparency are no longer respected.

Enquiries:

Bantu Holomisa, MP
UDM President

Cape Town
17 October 2001


With acknowledgement to Bantu Holomisa and UDM on the Web.