The Democratic Alliance (DA) believes it is imperative for the standing committee on public accounts to continue to pursue its deliberations and investigations of the arms deal in accordance with Section 56 of the constitution. This is necessary to uncover the full picture of SA's R43bn strategic defence procurement.

It was with this oversight obligation in mind that the DA requested further information from the defence department. It is a credit to the defence minister's commitment to a fully transparent process that he complied by rapidly surrendering the requested documents to Parliament.

The ministers of trade and industry, finance, public enterprises and defence have committed themselves before the standing committee on public accounts to co-operate. The manner in which they treat requests for information will be a test of this.

It is the duty of the committee to peruse all the facts if MPs are to be able to judge whether the joint investigative teams' report to Parliament reflects a thorough investigation of the issues contained in the committee's 14th report. SA taxpayers are entitled to a thorough investigation.

Raenette Taljaard, MP Democratic Alliance Spokesperson on Public Accounts; Standing Committee on Public Accounts Member

With acknowledgment to Raenette Taljaard and Business Day.