Publication	Business Day
Date	2001-09-26
Reporter	Linda Ensor
Web Link	www.bday.co.za

CAPE TOWN The tabling of the report of the probe into the R43bn arms deal would be delayed two to three weeks, auditor-general Shauket Fakie has told Parliament's public accounts committee.

He said in a letter that the delay was due to "circumstances beyond the control of the investigation team. In the interest of due process certain parts of the investigation will take somewhat longer to complete than initially anticipated." The first deadline was June-July and the second at the end of September.

In an interview he said that on reading the draft reports he decided more witnesses should be interviewed. Fakie said the report tabled would be a final one on the work of the auditor-general's and public protector's offices, but the directorate of public prosecutions could undertake further work.

The findings of the public hearings held by the public protector, Selby Baqwa, would be incorporated into the report.

Fakie dismissed Democratic Alliance (DA) suggestions that the report was being delayed so it would be tabled just prior to the parliamentary recess when it would be "buried". DA public accounts spokeswoman Raenette Taljaard said the DA was "deeply concerned" by Fakie's letter.

"Delays based on such bland reasons as supplied in the correspondence to the committee are unacceptable," Taljaard said.