Pretoria - The government will show no mercy to anyone who benefited financially from the multi-billion rand arms deal.

If the continued probe into bribery and corruption conducted by the Scorpions found evidence to charge anyone else, the law must take its course.

This implies that Deputy President Jacob Zuma could also be included. He reportedly has ties with Shabir Shaik.

Shaik is the brother of Chippie Shaik, the former chief weapons supplier to the defence force who has shares in a company which benefited from the transaction.

During an arms deal briefing in Pretoria on Tuesday, presidential minister Essop Pahad and Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin unequivocally stated that the government remained convinced it handled the transactions to the best of its ability.

No bribery

This included the conviction that there was no question of bribery or influence at the highest levels.

"The government believes it has achieved its strategic goal (set a few of years ago), namely to bolster the defence force with the necessary equipment (where upgrading was necessary)," said Erwin.

He conceded the ministers involved saw a preliminary report on the arms deal investigation.

"Not to decide how to change it, but to comment on it. Parts were badly drafted and were improved.

"I cannot recall a single item of importance which we changed. All such items in the original report are in the final version.

No guidelines on commission

Responding to a question on the guidelines his department gave contractors for paying agents and agent commission, Erwin said these were not enforceable.

"We can't prescribe to anyone who must be appointed (as sub-contractor or advisor) or how much such a person should be paid.

"These payments fall outside the contract the government has with the contractor."

Hawk training aircraft supplier BAE Systems was in the news recently for apparently paying a hefty commission to a South African agent.

Next March is the Cabinet's last chance to reconsider how many fighter jets it wishes to buy, but Erwin said he did not foresee any drastic changes to initial calculations.

"This could only be influenced by a drastic change in the country's financial fortunes or a currency crisis," he said.

With acknowledgements to Erika Gibson and the Beeld.