Publication: Beeld Issued: Date: 2007-09-17 Reporter: Msimelelo Njwabane

Tokyo : Arms Deal About Kickbacks

 

Publication 

Beeld
Date

2007-09-17

Reporter

 Msimelelo Njwabane

Web Link

 www.capetimes.co.za

 

Johannesburg - Tokyo Sexwale, tipped as a candidate for the leadership of the ANC, has roundly condemned South Africa's R60bn arms deal, implying that it was all about kickbacks *1.

During a luncheon at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) he told members of staff, students leaders, SACP and ANC Youth League officials and other guests that there was no military threat to justify South Africa buying foreign fighter jet planes and submarines.

"Incidentally, it's debt that will have to be repaid by you, (the taxpayers)...I told the comrades, let's get planes like the (South African manufactured) Cheetah *2."

"Why choose the Grippon (sic - Gripen) (Swedish and British made)?"

Where is the threat?

"Who will we be fighting against? Where is the threat in the next 15 years? This money is for schools, man!"

"What are you going to do with five submarines (from Germany)?" Sexwale asked the guests.

And then he supplied the answer: "It's for kickbacks, man!"

Sexwale referred to the arms deal shortly after he had addressed hundreds of (UJ) students in an adjoining hall of the synagogue on campus.

Halfway through Sexwale's address, Beeld's journalist was asked to leave the reception, although no restrictions had been placed on the media beforehand.

With acknowledgements to Msimelelo Njwabane and Beeld.


*1       But that's what we''ve been saying for about 8 years.


*2      That's what I've been saying for about 6 years.


The Arms Deal represents the biggest breakdown of orderly government ever in the history of South Africa - ever.

The Virodene affair was an attempt to make certain of those among us famous and wealthy, but it was a scam by charlatans deceiving the greedy and ignorant.

But the Virodene affair cost the taxpayer a few million Rand and the greedy and ignorant a few tens of millions of Rands more.

The Arms Deal cost the taxpayer a few billion Rand in acquisition costs and with many, many billions of Rands in lifecycle cost still to come of the next thirty to forty years.