Publication: Cape Argus Issued: Date: 2002-04-05 Reporter: Special Correspondent

Government Goes Ahead with Fighter-Plane Deal

The South African government has ignored opposition and civil society calls to cancel the purchase of 12 extra British Aerospace Hawk trainer jets in the second part of a fighter-aircraft deal expected to gobble R24-billion out of the nation's treasury.

Under the agreement between the South African government and British Aerospace, South Africa had until last Monday to cancel the second part of the arms acquisition deal reached last year.

The South African government has so far remained mum on the decision it took but the Independent Foreign Service has it on good authority that it has decided to proceed with the purchase of the 12 extra Hawks at a cost of about R3-billion.

South Africa has already bought the first batch of 12 Hawks from British Aerospace and nine dual-seat Gripens made by British Aerospace and the Swedish firm Saab. The first batch of Hawks will be delivered from 2003 and is already being manufactured. The second batch will be delivered from 2006 following the government's latest decision to proceed with the deal.

Sam Mkhwanazi, of the ministry of defence, refused to comment on the matter, saying the South African government would issue a detailed statement on its final decision on the second batch next week.

However, authoritative sources said that the purchase of the second batch was going ahead and the SA government had rejected opposition calls to cancel the deal. The South African government now has until March 31, 2004 to cancel the third and last part of the arms deal which will see the acquisition of a further 19 single-seat Gripens. Opposition parties and civic groups are staunchly opposed to the second and third rounds of purchases.

The Democratic Alliance immediately dismissed the decision to go ahead with the second part of the aircraft deal as irresponsible, saying the money could have been saved and used for other more pressing social needs.

"We had suspected that they would want to go ahead. As things stand, it is a counterproductive decision because the money could have been used to address more pressing needs," DA finance spokesman Raenette Taljaard said on Friday.

The powerful Congress of South African Trade Unions - and alliance partner of the ruling African National Congress - and the South African National NGO coalition have also proposed cancelling the second and third parts of the arms deal and spending the money on social services.

With acknowledgements to the Special Correspondent and Cape Argus.