ANC rebel Andrew Feinstein, who resigned from Parliament six weeks ago after disagreeing with the ANC's handling of the arms probe, has named five people, among them those hinted at by a source close to the arms probe, whom he believes should be investigated immediately for their roles in the government's R66 billion arms procurement programme.

Feinstein has fingered former Defence Minister Joe Modise; brothers Shabir and Chippy Shaik, and the director of a company linked to the arms deal - Futuristic Business Solutions - Lambert Moloi, who was labelled by Feinstein "Modise's right-hand man".

He also believes that Jayendra Naidoo, a former trade unionist and later the chief negotiator for the final package negotiations with the preferred bidders in the arms deal, should be probed.

In September last year, the Witness reported that, soon after leaving the cabinet in 1999, Modise emerged as chairman and major shareholder of a company with large interests in the arms deal.

The Witness also reported that Modise negotiated the bulk of South Africa's arms package, and that he signed a submarine deal with a German consortium days before leaving office, after which he bought shares for R40 million in a Durban-based company, Conlog Holdings, with interests in defence logistics.

The names of the Shaik brothers - who are from one of the country's top "struggle" families - have often come up in connection with the controversial arms deal.

Chippy is the government's head of defence procurement, while Shabir is a director of various companies linked to the arms industry.

In an interview with The Natal Witness yesterday, Feinstein said these are the people whom he and Public Accounts committee chairman Gavin Woods jointly decided should be probed further because "we feel there is prima facie evidence to warrant further investigations".

"I would hope that the investigators look into them in a meaningful way," Feinstein said.

He added that, in a recent telephone conversation with Woods - who is currently in Indonesia - they agreed that, while Yengeni's arrest is a positive step, it is now "absolutely critical" to go to the more important phase of investigating "the big players".

"Tony Yengeni is the small fry of the arms deal. There is a far bigger picture out there. I hope that this is a signal that the bigger picture will be addressed as well, rather than somebody having to fall by the wayside, and this being seen as sufficient action in the matter.

"I have been very concerned about the time taken in the investigation generally. I hope that we develop some momentum now. The report to Parliament of the Auditor-General and the Public Protector keeps on being postponed and I think it is time these agencies delivered, that there is action to follow up the investigation and that we see the people who may have benefited from far more than just a few cars and presents."

Feinstein said he believes the ANC has handled the arms deal issue "extremely badly, at every stage" since it arose in September last year.

"There was the whole issue of Heath, the pressure on Scopa, the pressure exerted on the investigators, and the issues of costing, where cabinet ministers were less than comprehensive in the way they dealt with the costing in the public domain - and this was yet another example of really poor judgment in the handling of an issue.

"At the beginning of this process, I went to the ANC and I said this is messy. The best way to deal with it is to have a short, sharp intervention where any of the agencies established in the country to address matters of corruption should be allowed to investigate as they see appropriate and if any individuals have done wrong, they should face the consequences."

Meanwhile, the office of the Auditor-General yesterday confirmed that Modise was interviewed by forensic investigators probing the arms deal on Tuesday.

Spokeswoman Lynette Groenewald said the session took the form of an interview rather than a formal interrogation, but Modise had a lawyer and advocate present.

Groenewald said investigators are not prepared to divulge the contents or the possible outcome of the interview at this stage.

The Beeld newspaper yesterday reported Modise acquired interests in various companies involved in counter-trade agreements that formed part of the arms deal.

He allegedly pre-empted certain feasibility studies and made recommendations on weapons before these had been completed.

The newspaper said Modise's son-in-law, Tsepo Molai, was also a director of Futuristic Business Solutions, and that certain competitors for arms contracts, such as Bell Helicopters, were allegedly asked by Modise to partner FBS in order to be considered for the contracts.

Modise could not be reached for comment.

With acknowledgment to Sue Segar, Sapa and the Natal Witness.