Proof of Mbeki Arms Meeting in Fax DA [Business Day, 2005-12-20]

Publication: Business Day Date: 2005-12-20 Reporter: Wyndham Hartley Reporter:

Proof of Mbeki Arms Meeting in Fax DA

Publication	Business Day
Date	2005-12-20
Reporter	Wyndham Hartley
Web Link	www.bday.co.za

CAPE TOWN The Democratic Alliance (DA) said yesterday it had proof of a meeting President Thabo Mbeki held with a weapons company to discuss the multibillion-rand arms deal during the tender process.

DA spokesman for public accounts Eddie Trent described as “obfuscatory” Mbeki’s response last week that if he met with Thomson-CSF executives in Paris in 1998 he “did not recall it”.

Thomson-CSF was awarded the contract to supply combat suites for corvettes in the strategic arms package. Its local representative, Thales, was implicated during businessman Schabir Shaik’s fraud trial in alleged attempts to bribe former deputy president Jacob Zuma.

Trent said yesterday he had copies of faxes confirming that Mbeki had met Thomson-CSF executives in Paris in 1998, when he was still deputy president.

One fax, by Thomson-CSF senior vice-president B de Bollardiere to Mbeki, confirmed they had met, Trent said.

Another fax, which was part of the record during the Shaik trial, said Mbeki was satisfied with the firm’s bid, and that he had given an assurance it would be awarded a contract, Trent said.

With acknowledgements to Wyndham Hartley and Business Day.