What delicious irony that Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has been detailed to investigate ANC cronies and their "culture of entitlement" (Government's failure to act helps to entrench corruption, says De Lille, Cape Argus, March 8).

Manue's signature in January 2000 on the arms deal loan agreements unleashed the corruption that now overwhelms the ANC and the country. His own department warned him and the cabinet that the arms deal would lead to "mounting fiscal, economic and financial difficulties", but these warnings were ignored.

The 20-year Barclays Bank loan agreements for the BAe warplane contracts are in my possession, and have been verified in court as authentic. They are a textbook example of Third World debt entrapment by European banks and governments, but, in violation of the Public Finance Management Act, have never been referred to or authorised by Parliament.

A British minister admitted in 2003 that bribes secured BAe's warplane contracts with South Africa, but they were "within acceptable limits" - revealed to be about £117m (R1.650bn).

German investigators have confirmed bribes were also paid to secure the German/French warship contracts. The extraordinary admission from Thyssen Krupp was that it was not then illegal to bribe foreigners.

Such bribes were even tax-deductible in Germany and Britain as business expenses. In short, the bribes for the arms deal were about R4bn.

With acknowledgements to Terry Crawford-Browne and Cape Argus.