Publication: Cape Times Issued: Date: 2006-08-02 Reporter: Karyn Maughan Reporter: Reporter:

President 'Intimately Involved'

 

Publication 

Cape Times
Date

2006-08-02

Reporter

 Karyn Maughan

Web Link

www.capetimes.co.za

 

Cosatu, ID want probe into Mbeki, arms deal *1

Johannesburg: Jacob Zuma has dragged President Thabo Mbeki into the centre of the arms deal controversy for which he faces charges.

And now new pressure has been piled on the Scorpions to investigate Mbeki's alleged role in the controversial deal.

Labour federation Cosatu and the Independent Democrats yesterday separately called on the Scorpions to probe Mbeki, following claims made by Zuma in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday.

In a strategically worded affidavit before Judge Herbert Msimang, Zuma cast Mbeki as the central government role player in the deal - in which Zuma and French arms company Thint have been accused of corruption.

The state claims that Zuma accepted R500 000 from Thint to exert political influence over the arms deal *2.

But both Thint and Zuma have vehemently denied any wrongdoing - and Zuma has claimed that Mbeki is one of the only people able to clarify whether or not there was any corruption involved in the deal.

While Zuma suggested that his involvement was minimal, he said Mbeki, in his then role as deputy president, was intimately involved.

"President Mbeki was in his position as the then deputy president and member of cabinet, very much involved in the arms deal process. He took an active interest and part in it. He engaged various of the role-players and other interested parties," Zuma said.

He then began to distance himself *3 from accusations of improprieties against Mbeki. "I distance myself from these and condemn the accusations as false. However, he is a person who is ideally and obviously suited to depose to the absence of corruption in the award process," Zuma said.

Zuma then questioned why there was no statement from Mbeki in the docket handed to the defence by the Scorpions, which would, according to common court practice, indicate that he would not be called as a witness.

In the last month, Mbeki has dealt with claims that German investigators were probing the role he allegedly played during crucial stages in the tender process of the mega arms deal.

And NPA spokesperson Makhosini Nkosi pointed out that he had previously stated that there was "no evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of President Mbeki in the arms deal" *4.

But Cosatu and the ID are not convinced *5.

In a statement released yesterday, ID leader Patricia de Lille said Mbeki was "not above the law" and should be investigated over his part in the arms deal. Cosatu secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi made the union's call for Mbeki to be investigated during an interview on SAfm yesterday morning.

With acknowledgements to Karyn Maughan and Cape Times.


*1 Everybody except Mbeki wants a probe into Mbeki, arms deal.


*2      The state claims that Zuma accepted a R500 000 per year (for two years) bribe agreement from Thint to protect Thint by exerting his political influence over the investigation into the arms deal.

Of the resulting R1 000 000 Thint paid R250 000 which Zuma accepted and used to build his Nkandla rural village.


*3      This is because Mbeki cannot really help him now, but might be able to grant him a presidential pardon if his isn't thoroughly annoyed.


*4      No one is convinced.


*5      This is not correct.

This would be correct if it went as : "no evidence so far of any criminality on the part of President Mbeki in the arms deal".

But there is court quality evidence of wrongdoing and other prima facie evidence that Mbeki or other very senior ANC member were involved in bribery on a much grander scale that Zuma's paltry R1,4 million from Shaikh and R1,0 million from Thint.