Publication: Independent Online Issued: Date: 2007-01-18 Reporter: Susan Featherstone

9/10 Readers Want Arms Deal Re-Investigated

 

Publication 

Independent Online
Date

2007-01-18

Reporter

 Susan Featherstone

Web Link

www.iol.co.za

 

In 1998 the department of defence announced that South Africa was going to spend R29,8-billion on arms.
Since that report the deal has been marred by scandal. In 1999 Independent Democrats leader Patricia De Lille blew the whistle on possible irregularities and pointed fingers at senior ANC members whom she claimed had benefited from the controversial deal.

Then auditor-general Shauket Fakie exonerating the government of any misconduct without a thorough investigation. In January 2000 President Thabo Mbeki announced that there was no prima facie evidence against anyone in government pertaining to the arms deal.

Since then a number of senior politicians have been implicated.

Eight years since the scandal first erupted the South African government finds itself under renewed pressure by British and German investigators to step up the investigation.

Should the investigation into the arms deal be re-opened? Of the 724 people who voted on the IOL poll 89 percent said YES, while 11 percent of the voters said NO.

A few comments from the poll:

Anonymous: Interesting times. Now that Blair is fingered it shows that Europeans are not immune to corruption.

Brian: The ANC pleads poverty but has spent more than the country can afford on weapons that they cannot use. Too many jets and no pilots. What a joke.

Anonymous: It should be re-opened but by a team from outside the SA security apparatus, preferably from overseas. Then we may have a chance of the findings reflecting what really happened.

Jomba: South African taxpayers deserve recourse if there was wrongdoing in the deal.

Ted Haller: Where there's smoke, there's fire. Let's see how their government handles corruption - if it's anything like ours, Tony Blair will receive a token slap on the wrist and be promoted to queen. [Edited IOL]

Bianca: Every country has corrupt politicians. They are just smart enough to cover their tracks better :>) Let them do it. Open it up. To be honest it doesn't make a difference because next month a new scandal will break out and this one will be covered up for another few years.

Kennedy: Certainly. It seems just about every top government official has something to hide relating to the arms deal.

Anton: Fire everyone and let the people elect a new government. Perhaps then we could have an honest government?

Bhekani: I don't think it will be good idea, because all members of parliament will end up in jail including Mbeki the president.

With acknowledgements to Susan Featherstone and Independent Online.