The opposition DA is to ask Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota why South Africa needs a R1-billion missile defence system and why the French company Thales — under fire for alleged corruption — is getting part of the contract.

The DA spokesman on public accounts, Eddie Trent, said yesterday he would submit questions in parliament over the contract with Thales and Denel for the Project Guardian ground-to-air missile system, due for delivery in November 2009.

Thales is in the same stable of companies as Thint, the arms firm at the centre of corruption allegations against Jacob Zuma.

Trent said: “Thales is a company that not only flouted the UN arms embargo against apartheid, but is also internationally seen as an instrument through which French governments have subverted democracy in Africa and elsewhere, and whose agent, Schabir Shaik, has been found guilty of bribing the former deputy president.”

Lekota told parliament in August that Project Guardian would cost R999.09-million and would be based on Thales’ Starstreak missiles.

With acknowledgement to Anton Ferreira and The Times.