de Lille, who was a Pan Africanist Congress MP at that time, and who had received the documents signed by "concerned ANC members" first raised a motion on the subject in Parliament on September 9, 1999.

She said "at that time I wanted to help government root out the bad apples".

Prosecutor Billy Downer asked her why she was given the document pertaining to the alleged irregularities.

Before she could reply, Judge Hillary Squires said "because you're a well-known critic of government".

De Lille smiled and said "more than that, because people trust me and they know the truth will come out".

Her testimony relates to count three of corruption against Shaik in which he allegedly solicited a bribe for Deputy President Jacob Zuma in exchange for protection during an investigation into the multi billion rand arms deal.

De Lille said she had the backing of 15 civil society organisations when she approached the Heath Investigating Unit with the allegations.

At that stage 91 proclamations relating to investigations were outstanding from the president, and she hoped her request for a proclamation was not going to become number 92.

Eventually the Heath unit was excluded from the investigation into alleged irregularities, which was carried out by the attorney general *1, the public protector *2 and the National Prosecuting Authority.

De Lille said that she did not accept that the investigation could be as credible as one done by Heath because none of these bodies had the "legal competence" to complete the investigation as the unit could have.

The unit had a record of good results and the legal powers to cancel contracts *3 they found to be corrupt. They were also the only body in the country that could deal with the civil part of the investigation.

Downer asked if anyone else had the documents she had. De Lille said a day after she raised the matter in Parliament (Sept 10) there were stories in various newspapers because they had also been made available to the media.

She said even before she raised her objections to the arms deal in 1999, Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane had questioned the need for the weapons in 1998 *4.

She raised a motion on the subject in Parliament on September 9 but the Deputy Speaker at the time *5 objected because certain MPs names were mentioned. She then presented an amended version on September 21, 1999.

The House then decided to have a public debate on the matter, and called for an official commission of inquiry and Cabinet to embark on further negotiations *6.

The prosecution said the time frame in which the issue of irregularities was raised was important in relation to the dates in which the alleged conspiracy to bribe arose *7.

With acknowledgement to Wendy Jasson da Costa and Sapa.

*1  Stooge 1.

*2  Stooge 2.

Riddle of the Week

How many stooges were there and if there were more than two, who was Stooge 3?

*3  The Crux of this biscuit was not the apostrophe, but the civil power of contract cancellation. This was why the government was desperately seeking stooges. They found some - see above.

*4  In 1997/8, the only registered and real requirement for major new weapon systems was for a light frigate or patrol corvette.

*5  Speaker at this time. Maybe this was why Frene was pushed into redeployment.

*6  With the preferred suppliers or to get new preferred suppliers.

*7  Exactly - because by then the Government had nominated ADS as the stipulated supplier of the Corvette Combat Suite and by that thoughtless act had boxed themselves in to a Houdini regarding the price and scope of supply now that the French had shown their hand and purchased 100% of ADS and given 20% to Modise's buddy Lambert Moloi and an effective 20% to Chippy's brother, Schabir.