Statement By Douglas Gibson MP
Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance

Issued by: Democratic Alliance

Attention: News Editors

For immediate release

Mr Eddie Trent MP made a statement in the House disclosing that an encrypted fax avers that President Mbeki attended a secret meeting with Thomsons CSF before Arms Deal tenders had closed. There is an allegation that the President indicated that Thomsons CSF would receive a contract.

The Deputy Speaker, Ms Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde, indicated her displeasure at an attack on the President when he was not present and suggested that Mr Trent's questions should be put to the President at question time.

The President was originally scheduled to answer questions on Thursday, 23 June 2005 but postponed and will now appear only in August.

The Deputy Speaker later ruled that there is a convention that members of parliament, including the President, cannot be accused of improper conduct other than by way of a substantive notice of motion. She thereupon instructed Mr Trent to withdraw his statement about the President. She was requested by me to state the Rule in terms of which she was acting. She refused to do so. The truth is that the President is not a member of parliament and there is no such convention relating to him. Mr Trent thereupon refused to withdraw his allegations and was instructed to leave the House. This he did.

The Deputy Speaker refused to allow any further questions about the matter and I am therefore forced to refer the matter to higher authorities. This I will do tomorrow.

For Further Info:

Douglas Gibson
082 415 5246

Anthony Hazell
DA Communications Director
Ph : 082 787 4002/ 021 403 3528
Fax : 021 461 0092
Email : anthony@da.org.za

With ackowledgements to Sapa.