Publication: The Star Issued: Date: 2006-08-16 Reporter: Angela Quintal Reporter:

Lekota Defends President On Arms Deal 'Link'

 

Publication 

The Star
Date 2006-08-16

Reporter

 Angela Quintal

Web Link

www.thestar.co.za

 

It was intolerable *1 that President Thabo Mbeki was under a "perpetual cloud" *2 even though there was no concrete evidence implicating him in arms-deal corruption or wrongdoing *3, according to Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota.

Lekota came to Mbeki's defence in parliament yesterday after DA MP Eddie Trent raised the issue of Mbeki's, and now Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad's, alleged meetings with representatives of a French arms firm in December 1997 (sic - 1998) and February 1999, respectively.

Referring to renewed allegations and questions about corruption in the arms deal, Lekota told parliament that the ANC remained open to a thorough investigation at home *4 or anywhere else in the world.

Referring to the fact that Jacob Zuma was stripped of his position as deputy president of the country only after a damning judgment in the Schabir Shaik trial, Lekota said: "We sit today with the ignominy *5 of not having the deputy president of our party here in deference to the decision the court took once evidence was tabled."

Mbeki's role in the arms deal, when he was deputy president, has been the subject of renewed speculation recently.

Mbeki is on record as saying he does not recall a meeting with representatives of French arms firm Thomson CSF, now known as Thales, whose South African subsidiary, Thint, has been charged with corruption along with Zuma.

Zuma's defence team have already hinted that they may call Mbeki as a defence witness in relation to a letter signed by Zuma in his capacity as leader of government business to then standing committee on public accounts chairperson Gavin Woods, but actually drafted by the Presidency.

Other parties, particularly the Independent Democrats, want answers from the National Prosecuting Authority as to why Mbeki is not under investigation *6.

With acknowledgements to Angela Quintal and The Star.


*1       It is intolerable that the joint investigation and its report were spiked.


*2      The torture never stops.


*3      There is the proverbial full of concrete (documentary) evidence implicating Mbeki in arms-deal wrongdoing.

Such documented wrongdoing includes interference in the acquisition processes and interference in the investigation report.

The German prosecuting and tax authorities are investigating bribery on the scale of hundreds of millions.


*4      Then let's do it.


*5      Ignominy it certainly is. The entire SANDF and especially SA Navy should be proud of there new ships and aircraft, but they now know that that they were acquired with dubious justification and in certain cases, corrupt circumstances.


*6      Because he's the main guy and they fear and favour the main guy.