Public Protector Selby Baqwa has denied claims in Noseweek magazine that he was among a group of top officials who held a secret meeting related to the arms probe at ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni's Cape Town home in December. 

Noseweek claims in its latest issue that Baqwa, National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka and a Gauteng judge were among those who attended. "Those who qualified for official travel privileges were warned not to use them when booking their air tickets, as they might later be more easily traced," according to Noseweek editor Martin Welz. 

"The main item of the agenda was what to do about the investigations - called for and approved by Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts." The meeting is alleged to have occurred between Christmas and New Year. It follows Parliament's watchdog public accounts committee recommendation for a multi-agency probe into the deal by Baqwa, Ngcuka, Auditor-General Shauket Fakie and corruption buster Judge Willem Heath. 

However, the ANC's attitude to the proposed probe changed drastically in the new year, resulting in claims that Yengeni and senior ANC leaders were trying to stifle the investigation. The ANC's component on Scopa was changed, with outspoken ANC MP Andrew Feinstein, who led the charge for an independent probe, sidelined. 

ANC MPs led by deputy chief whip Geoff Doidge, did an about turn and claimed Scopa's interim report had never singled out Judge Heath. President Thabo Mbeki subsequently refused a proclamation for Heath to be involved in the investigation, sparking claims in some quarters that the government was trying to stifle a comprehensive probe. 

Baqwa said through his office yesterday that claims he attended a meeting at Yengeni's home in December was "absolute nonsense". "Its balderdash." Baqwa said he was overseas at the time of the alleged meeting. "Someone must have an overactive imagination. The allegations are completely false," he said. 

Ngcuka's spokesperson Sipho Ngwema said his principal was out of the country and he was not in a position to immediately comment. A spokesperson for Yengeni was also not available for comment.

Yengeni is under investigation by the three agencies after claims that he received a luxury vehicle as a kickback from a company with an interest in the R43-billion arms deal. He has denied the claims and insists he acquired the car legitimately. 

With acknowledgment to iafrica.com.