GOVERNMENT could not survive if it was seen to be weak on corruption, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said yesterday. He also reaffirmed government's commitment to the forensic audit of the R43bn arms deal.

Lekota told a meeting of the SA National Editors' Forum that for SA to give the impression to the world that the government was corrupt and unreliable would be very damaging and would dramatically weaken the ability of the country to attract investment.

Lekota also vowed that if someone was found to have made money out of the deal, whether this was a member of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) or not, the person would be rooted out and punished in the courts.

He said the cabinet was convinced of the integrity of the process by which the arms deal had been approved. This involved a committee of officials, then a cabinet committee and finally a decision by the full cabinet. 

With acknowledgement to Wyndham Hartley and Business Day.