Publication: Business Day Issued: Date: 2007-01-08 Reporter: Wyndham Hartley Reporter:

DA Seeks Probe into Kickbacks Claims

 

Publication 

Business Day
Date 2007-01-08

Reporter

 Wyndham Hartley

Web Link

www.businessday.co.za

 

CAPE TOWN ­ Pressure is mounting on President Thabo Mbeki to establish a judicial commission of inquiry into allegations of corruption in the multibillion-rand arms deal, following weekend reports that the British Serious Fraud Office is investigating kickbacks paid to a former defence ministry official.

The Guardian in London reported that businessman Fana Hlongwane, former adviser to the late Joe Modise, a former defence minister, was being investigated for receiving payments from BAE Systems.

BAE won part of the R20bn contract to supply 24 Hawk jet trainers as part of the arms deal.

Democratic Alliance (DA) MPs Eddie Trent and Roy Jankielsohn said yesterday in a joint statement: “From the outset, the DA has called for a judicial commission of inquiry, autonomous from the state. It should have a comprehensive and overarching mandate to investigate the arms deal in its entirety,” they said.

“Until this happens, new allegations of corruption and speculation about procedural irregularities will continue to haunt government.”

They said the British reports were evidence of this. The party said Mbeki needed to take decisive action and appoint a judicial commission.

“He needs to make sure it has a mandate which means it is not accountable to the executive and can operate autonomously, and which has the power to subpoena.”

They said the numerous ad hoc investigations into the various aspects of the arms deal to date had not been helpful.

It was clear that even though government wanted to avoid further scandals, foreign investigating agencies regarded allegations of possible criminality in the deal as serious enough to warrant continuous investigation, they said.

With acknowledgements to Wyndham Hartley and Business Day.