It is not surprising Scopa members spent the day talking past each other. It was a milestone meeting on the arms deal, the issue that has severely damaged the institution in the past year. Predictably, but sadly, the meeting's official business was resolved in the most partisan possible way the African National Congress majority voted for the report it had tabled, and all four opposition parties represented (included the ANC's new ally, the New National Party) voted against.

The opposition representatives dismissed the ANC entreaties to seek consensus, including by going through their draft report sentence by sentence. It was not a gracious response. But, by the same token, it was clear the ANC was looking for a consensus in line with the view the party had already taken that the report by the three investigating agencies amounted to a vindication of the cabinet and the arms procurement process as a whole.

The fact is that the issue had been so politicised that there was no chance of consensus. It was triggered nearly a year ago with the ANC leadership's attempts to sweep the scandal under the carpet. Subsequently, opposition parties did little to halt the spiral.

Perhaps that is why the parties ensured that they spoke past each other this week. Had they engaged in a rational, less partisan discussion in the old Scopa tradition they might have reached something close to a consensus.

The basis for a consensus seems fairly clear. It would go something like this: the procurement was deeply flawed, with widespread evidence of procedural shortcomings and attempts at bribery by bidders. The executive cannot escape political responsibility for this. And the precise motives for certain "strategic" decisions remain unclear.

However, there is no evidence at this stage that those decisions were decisively influenced by these flaws, and contracts should not be considered null and void for this reason. At the same time, pricing models failed to take account of current exchange rate realities, and for that reason later tranches of proposed acquisitions should be put in abeyance.

Political dynamics precluded any such rational consensus being arrived at. None of the parties could allow that to happen.

Nonetheless, Woods's advice seemed to strike a chord in the committee, whose final meeting was conducted in a cordial manner. Perhaps the year's events have reminded members of their job. They can play politics elsewhere. But in Scopa their obligation is to ensure that taxpayers' money is properly spent. It would be nice if they all took a New Year's resolution to this effect.

With acknowledgement to Business Day.