As the Navy shows off its newest corvette, admiral says "The South African Navy is not going to get involved in who had their hand in the cookie jar during the arms acquisition process." *1

That was the stern rebuke to media from Admiral Moseu Magalefa on Thursday as the SAS Mendi corvette arrived for the first time in Durban harbour - just three kilometres away from where the Schabir Shaik trial into allegations of corruption in the arms procurement process is taking place.

Shaik's interest in the Navy's primary contractor, African Defence Systems, is a matter for the courts, Magalefa said. *2

Fielding a barrage of questions from media, Magalefa said the Navy is only interested in ensuring that they receive the exact equipment they need *3 to provide South Africa with a credible marine defence and monitoring system over the next 40 years.

The rest of the old navy vessels will be phased out by 2010, in which time South Africa hopes to persuade its SADC neighbours to adopt similar technology.

Three quarters of the new ship's combat suites will be home grown *4 - the largest percentage of any defence contract.

"And we are happy that we have got what we asked for *5. The contractors met all our criteria *6," he said.

Coming as part of the Navy's down-sizing programme, in line with recent budget cuts, each of the four R4 billion Corvettes - R6 billion once fully armed *7 - will also provide front-line defence against illegal fishing and the ever-increasing threat of high-seas piracy.

Asked whether R4 billion is an excessive sum to pay for one ship, Magalefa said bread and butter on people's tables cannot be guaranteed without national security.

This is all the more important in light of the danger of international terrorist groups who might one day turn their sights on South Africa, he said.

His words were echoed by Defence Department spokesman Vuyo Zambodla, who said that as far as the department is concerned, the arms deal is above board.

"These ships are here to stay," he confirmed, referring to recent media speculation that any irregularities in the acquisition process could see the ships returned to their German manufacturers.

"If you study recent warfare you see that the Navy plays a decisive role in the outcome of the war. South Africa has stated that it can not take an offensive role so these ships enable us to better play a peace-keeping role throughout the continent," Magalefa added.

At the helm of the 121 metre long SAS Mendi, which is named after the SS Mendi that was sunk off the UK coast in 1917, is Captain Kevin Packer, in his third command.

While he acknowledged that his is primarily a combat role, he said an issue much closer to his heart is the protection and conservation of South Africa's marine resources.

"Once bitten, the sea is in your blood. We can take police and conservation officers on board if we need to make an arrest of, for example, illegal fishing vessels plundering the coastline," he explained. Offenders can therefore be arrested on the high seas, brought back to South Africa and prosecuted.

The SAS Mendi will be at full weapons capacity early next year. These will include Exocet MM40 surface-to-air missiles, Umkhonto SAM missiles, 76mm and 35mm artillery guns and two 20mm machine guns on either side of the bridge wing. A light torpedo launching system is also on the cards. A unique jet-propulsion *8 system allows the ship to reach a top speed of 30 knots *9, then stop within two of its own bodylengths.

"This is my best command so far. We have put the Mendi through her paces and she has been designed for South African water conditions. The crew are highly motivated and well-trained," Packer concluded.

With acknowledgements to Craig Bishop and The Natal Witness.

*1 Not even it its the President, Deputy President, Minister of Defence, Ambassador to France, Chief of Acquisitions?

But it was SA Navy officers who "managed" this procurement on behalf of their principals and who were warned well before the contracts were signed that the acquisition process was irregular.

They also knew of the Chief of Acquisitions's declared conflict of interest as well as his continued flagrant disregard of his recusal. But they allowed the acquisition of the Corvette Combat Suite to proceed to the benefit of the Chief of Acquisitions's brother and all the latters' beneficiaries.

*2 Previously it was for the Joint Investigation Team.

*3 The "exact equipment they need" is specified in the SA Navy's Combat Suite User Requirement Specification. What they allowed ADS and Thomson to provided them was not only non-conformant to this specification, but also cost the taxpayers over R1 billion (in 1999 rands) more than budgeted.

*4 Actually, less than 50%, probably less than 40% once the anti-ship missiles are taken into account.

*5 The SA Navy never got what they asked for. With the platform they got more than they asked for; with the combat suite that got much less than they asked for.

*6 This is simply untrue.

*7 Nonsense :

The cabinet-approved budget price was R6,001 billion (in 1999 rands) for four vessels with combat suites.

The contract price was R6,873 billion (in 1999 rands) for four vessels with combat suites.

The escalated contract price is about R12 billion (in 2004 rands) for four vessels with combat suites.

However, it seems another R500 million has surreptitiously been spent on anti-ship missiles and other equipment to make up the capability short-fall.

Additionally, another R1,5 billion has quietly been spent purchasing 4 maritime helicopters without which the R12 billion corvettes would merely be plump and expensive targets.

*8 More than the SA Navy wanted.

*9 After recent tests, the corvette could only make a speed of 27 knots, although 32 knots was the required specification - Less than the SA Navy wanted.

Also less than the Navy wanted, was the following : Only 5 Combat Suites, not 5 (one was for a permanent testbed and for training). Only 16 anti-ship missiles in total, not 32 (probably none were paid out of the Arms Deal itself) Only 16 anti-air missiles per ship, not 32 No torpedoes Only one radar tracker, rather than two Only two, rather than four, Multiple Rocket Launchers No Laser Warner Minimal/basic electronic warfare equipment No AHEAD ammunition for 35 mm cannons No Formation Commander Console

But for all these scope of supply reductions, ADS and Thomson-CSF were awarded a contract for about R800 million more than the carefully calculated budget price - and probably more than R1 200 million once the anti-ship missiles are taken into account.

These are great contracts if you can get them.