The Democratic Alliance on Wednesday proposed a motion in the National Assembly to appoint a joint ad hoc committee to investigate the multi-billion rand arms deal.

Giving notice of the motion, DA Chief Whip Douglas Gibson said the Joint Investigating Team's probe into the deal "and the subsequent removal of information from its final report", should be noted.

Sections of the Auditor-General Act also raised important questions regarding the act's compliance with Section 188 of the Constitution, he said.

The House should further note the "serious damage that the arms deal and subsequent allegations of corruption and cover-up have done to our nation's reputation".

The House should therefore resolve to appoint a joint ad hoc committee to "investigate the arms deal and to make use of section 56 of the Constitution in the course of its enquiries", Gibson said.

On Tuesday, DA leader Tony Leon told the Cape Town Press Club that section 56 empowered Parliament to call before it anyone involved in the deal, including Auditor-General Shauket Fakie, former defence head of acquisitions Chippy Shaik, and contractors whose conduct had been questioned.

Fakie -- whose office, with the Public Protector and National Directorate of Public Prosecutions, investigated the deal -- has been accused of allowing the probe's final report to be edited to omit vital information.

But, in a statement earlier this week, the AG dismissed the allegations, saying the draft and final reports had not been closely studied and compared.

"This irresponsible behaviour has led to inaccuracies being published, and a biased, unfair cloud of suspicion being created against the Auditor-General and his office."

Fakie said he was prepared to defend himself in court as "this is the proper forum for these issues to be aired".

With acknowledgement to Sapa.