English Translation for : Chippy 'Kon Beter Doen'

If he looks back now, he could have done it (the arms deal) better, but it is now concluded.

So says Mr Chippy Shaikh, controversial chief of acquisitions of the Department of Defence, after having resigned last week.

Shaikh is viewed as the key figure in decisions about who got contracts in the arms deal.

For example, this last week it came to light that Mr Moeletsi Mbeki, brother of President Thabo Mbeki, was going to make money as a result of a decision influenced by Shaikh during the arms deal.

Ms Raenette Taljaard, DA-spokesperson on the arms deal, says questions about Shaikh’s role in decisions should not end simply because he resigned.

“It is noteworthy that he has decided to resign after first having kept his post during the whole arms deal investigation. This ensured that he remained in a powerful position to influence the investigation by means of possibly selectively making available information and documents to the joint investigation team."

Taljaard says the fact that Shaikh got away with what he has done, has lowered the ethical standards of conduct by government officials and others will also think that they can get away with it.

The key question is whether Shaikh is going to work in the defence industry because this raises further ethical questions, says Taljaard.

Shaikh says that he is now going to complete his doctoral degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Natal.

He is a former Fullbright Scholar.

“All the recommendations in the Auditor-General’s report on the arms deal are now being implemented.” He also wants to leave the department before a new acquisition process begins.

Shaikh says that he has no immediate plans for employment. “What I do know, is that I should not work in the defence industry now."

He is going to complete his studies first and will then consider any good offers.

Shaikh was sharply criticised in the report on the multi-billion arms deal investigation because be did not properly recuse himself from decisions where his businessman-brother, My Schabir Shaikh had an interest.

“When I now look back, I could have done it better.”

Schabir Shaik’s Nkobi Holdings has shares in companies which won a range of contracts in the arms deal. Schabir is also being charged for illegally being in possession of, inter alia, cabinet minutes on the arms deal.

The question remains as to from whom he got the documents.

Chippy Shaik was suspended in November last year because he gave a preliminary draft of the report to his attorneys.

He was found guilty of misconduct and received a final written warning.

With acknowledgements to Andries Cornelissen and Rapport