Publication: Pretoria News Issued: Date: 2007-03-08 Reporter: Thokozani Mtshali

Arms Deal Graft : 'More Were On Take'

 

Publication 

Pretoria News
Date

2007-03-08

Reporter

 Thokozani Mtshali

Web Link

www.pretorianews.co.za

 

Patricia de Lille's crusade against corrupt officials is going full steam ahead with the ID leader now calling for the prosecution of 31 South Africans who allegedly received discounts on cars from a company involved in the arms deal.

De Lille said yesterday she had discovered during her recent visit to Germany that the officials, ranging from politicians to public servants and MPs, had received highly discounted vehicles from the German company, Daimler Chrysler Aerospace, which benefited from the multimillion rand arms deal.

The vehicles appear to be part of a fleet of 33 luxury cars purchased from Daimler-Chrysler by its sister company - the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) - which was part of a consortium awarded a tender to provide South Africa with arms.

De Lille said the company had pleaded guilty in Germany in 2001 to bribery, which related to the cars given to top South African public officials in a bid to buy their influence in the arms procurement processes.

De Lille said she was still trying to get the names of the 31 people.

Among those were former ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni who received a 48 % discount on a 4X4.

"I have since made an official request to advocate Vusi Pikoli that he ask his counterparts in Germany for the information about these 31 people so they can be prosecuted."

Yengeni and businessman Schabir Shaik are so far the only two most politically connected people to have been successfully prosecuted on crimes related to the arms deal.

With acknowledgements to Thokozani Mtshali and Pretoria News.