Publication: The Star
Issued:
Date: 2007-01-22
Reporter: Editorial
There
was no corruption at government level during the arms deal,
Thabo Mbeki told TV viewers last week. And that conclusion will stand, he
added, whatever investigation the British are doing.
But it would be
unwise for the president to believe the controversial R56 -billion deal will go
away of its own accord. It all dates back to 1999, when the British arms
manufacturer BAe won a contract to supply SA with fighter jets. Indeed, it's now
known that BAe was securing lucrative contracts in many jurisdictions around
that time, including Saudi Arabia.
However, it didn't take long for it
to emerge that BAe had also been dipping into a multibillion- pound slush fund
to nail the deals. In the case of South Africa, it's been alleged that eight
prominent business leaders and their enterprises lined their pockets with
R1-billion in commissions. The latest twist calls the name of the British prime
minister and former premiers into disrepute for allegedly opening doors in high
places for BAe all this time.
While Tony Blair now faces a number of
inquiries in London, the South African government is doing
its utmost to deflect the unanswered questions here. Those implicated in
the South African deal have been found guilty in the court of public opinion.
But whatever came of the investigation initiated by the Scorpions? And why has
the National Prosecuting Authority chief yet to be briefed on the request for
assistance from British investigators, months after receiving it? If ever a silence was deafening, it's now.
But
despite the reticence on the part of our authorities to probe the claims, British investigators are now saying they will leave no stone
unturned until all the dirty dealings associated with BAe are brought to
light.
Calls have been made in Europe "to actively
pursue, actively investigate and actively prosecute" the alleged bribery.
Surely the same message applies to us here?
With acknowledgements to The Star.
Vat hom Vusi, vat hom.