South Africa's investigation into the arms deal and its putting into place of mechanisms to deal with unbecoming behaviour by both politicians and government officials were illustrations of the government "setting a good example", says Deputy President Jacob Zuma.

He was replying to a question in Parliament from Democratic Alliance (DA) member of the National Council of Provinces Shelley Loe who asked whether in his assessment the government was setting a good example to South African citizens in regard to moral regeneration, particularly in view of the so-called "Travelgate" issue, the arms deal and other ethical questions involving politicians and senior government officials.

Loe was referring to the misuse of parliamentary travel vouchers which has become known as "Travelgate".

Zuma said he believed the government was "indeed" setting a good example to South African citizens in regard to moral regeneration.

"I believe that by instituting an investigation into the arms deal and also putting in place mechanisms to deal with unbecoming behaviour by both politicians and government officials, the government is setting a very good example to South African citizens that wrongdoing is not acceptable no matter what the status of the alleged perpetrator," he said.

Zuma did not refer to the Shaik fraud and corruption trial involving the arms deal. Shaik is his business adviser.

He noted that parliament had developed a code of conduct for its members which was intended to help Members of Parliament conduct themselves appropriately as public representatives, establish standards of behaviour for them and hold them accountable for their exercise of power.

Ministers were obliged to comply with an executive code of ethics which prescribed standards and rules aimed at promoting open government.

All government officials were expected to comply with a code of conduct.

"Unfortunately the media tends to focus on usually untested allegations of unethical behaviour rather than the advances government has made in setting standards for public representatives.

"In spite of all the media hype regarding the travel vouchers investigation initiated by parliament, no Member of parliament had yet been charged let alone prosecuted for any offence relating to this investigation.

"Similarly with the arms procurement process, in spite of extensive investigations over a six year period, no one had been found guilty of any offence directly linked to the procurement process *1," he said.

"It is regrettable that the good stories of the advances being made in establishing transparent, clean government are perceived as selling fewer newspapers than the ones which allege impropriety."

With ackowledgement to Donwald Pressly, I-Net Bridge and the Sunday Times.

*1 Only because the likes of him and his boss called on some of those in our country who have unswerving obedience to their masters, that is the Three Stooges, to produce an investigation and investigation report which, although hints at massive unlawfulness across the board, let's them off the hook.

When Stooge 3 catches Thint (Pty) Ltd, Alain Thetard and Jean-Paul Perrier with a smoking encrypted fax, he withdraws charges against them.

This can hardly be classified as morally regenerate.