The Freedom Front Plus has renewed its call for a fresh investigation into certain aspects of the controversial multi-billion rand arms deal.

The party wants the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and German prosecutors, to probe whether “any promises were made” prior to arms deal contracts being finalised and signed, to any of the 29 people on a list who received discounts on vehicles from the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS).

“If that is the case, it is corruption,” FF Plus spokesman Pieter Groenewald told a media briefing at Parliament yesterday.

Earlier this week, Groenewald said the list of names is well known, having been published in the media early in 2003.

He said Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota “confirmed” the names in an answer to a question he posed in Parliament, on March 19, 2003.

However, Lekota’s spokesman Sam Mkhwanazi repeated yesterday that the minister did not release the names on the list.

Names

“The minister has never released any names to Parliament,” Mkhwanazi told radio’s AM Live.

According to the official Hansard transcript, Groenewald asked Lekota whether any members of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) received discounts on vehicles from a certain company (EADS) and what the details were.

Lekota replied: “Yes. I have a list available, which was published in the press, listing all those persons who bought motor vehicles at a discount and what that discount amounted to.”

Yesterday, Groenewald maintained that with this answer, Lekota confirmed the names.

The FF Plus decided to provide the list to the media on Tuesday, because of the current speculation about who was on it, and as a reminder that it was not new.

Groenewald said Lekota has been fully aware of the list since 2003 and has “done nothing about it”.

Hence the FF+ renewed its call for an investigation.

The names include those of the former head of the Defence Force, General Siphiwe Nyanda, the former head of the Air Force, General Roelf Beukes, and the former executive chairman of Armscor, Llew Swan.

These people, and others on the list, had key positions and played a key role in awarding arms contracts.

Favours

“It could rightly be asked whether these favours had not already been promised before the awarding of the contracts. If it turns out to be so, it boils down to corruption,” Groenewald said.

Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille on Wednesday laid criminal charges against the 29 people on the list.

Asked if the defence ministry will investigate the matter, Mkhwanazi replied: “De Lille has taken the matter where it belongs — the matter must be investigated. If anyone has done something wrong then the law must take its course.”

De Lille said former ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni’s case set a precedent, and queried why he is the only one prosecuted in the matter.

NPA spokesman Panyaza Lesufi said it is unfair to say the NPA has dragged its feet over the matter, as De Lille alleges.

The NPA, the Public Protector and the Auditor-General met last Thursday to discuss whether the allegations deserve a joint investigation. It was decided that each government agency will investigate separately.

Asked why legal action was taken only against Yengeni, Lesufi replied that the NPA investigated the allegations and felt “that it wouldn’t be appropriate and correct to proceed with … prosecutions”.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and The Witness.