Parliament's watchdog public accounts committee on Monday held a closed-session meeting to prepare for questioning of the defence department on aspects of its controversial R32-billion arms purchase programme.

The committee is expected to quiz the department on Wednesday about deviations from normal procurement procedures, highlighted in a special auditor-general report last month.

Public Protector Selby Baqwa is also investigating the deal, as is the investigating directorate of serious economic offences; special investigating unit head Judge Willem Heath is also expected to apply for a presidential proclamation to start a formal probe.

Auditor-General Shauket Fakie's report highlights material deviations from generally-accepted procurement practice.

'Party to a massive international swindle' It recommends a forensic audit into the deal's subcontracts, which fall outside the scope of his probe and have been the subject of repeated corruption claims.

An organisation, Economists Allied for Arms Reduction, last month submitted documents to the committee which, it said, implicated African National Congress politicians and their associates in alleged corruption related to the arms deal.

It claimed some of the alleged beneficiaries were party "to a massive international swindle". - Sapa

With acknowledgement to Sapa and Independent Online.