Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said today he did not believe the exclusion of Judge Willem Heath and his special investigating unit from the probe into the government's R43 billion arms acquisition programme would have an effect on South Africa's economy.

The three agencies which were to conduct the investigation - Public Protector Selby Baqwa, Auditor-General Shauket Fakie and National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka - were "competent and independent", he said on SABC TV's "Newsmaker" programme.

Manuel quoted a prominent commentator as having said that if the three units showed they were "above board", he was sure there would be "no problem" regarding their effectiveness in conducting the probe.

Manuel reiterated that he was not aware of the hundreds of millions of rands Judge Heath claimed to have saved the SA government and taxpayers.

With acknowledgement to Sapa and SABC News.