But you just can't keep a good scandal down, and the arms deal was soon back on the front pages of the koerante. First there was a judge telling Schabir Shaik that he had to answer the investigators' questions. Then, in what he probably thought was a damage-control exercise, that self-confessed former arms trader, David Botha*, penned an "independent" hagiography of the arms deal, in an apparent effort to ingratiate himself with the new masters. Someone needs to tell the old-guarder that the lingo's changed since he went around flogging meerkats or rooivalks (or other little beasties) when South Africa tried to make like it was an island.

Citing the big benefits, he said "[The arms deal] has dispelled notions of South Africa as a third world country". In case he hasn't noticed, we are top dogs of the African Union, a self-identifying "third world" affair. And Thabo Mbeki bought the arms because he wants to stay on top, David.

* [Dawid Botha was previously (middle 1980s) a senior manager at Armscor and later (late 1980s) an executive director of Altech Defence Systems (ADS).]

With acknowledgements to the Mail and Guardian.