Lekota Rejects de Lille's Allegations [Sapa, 2007-11-06]

Publication: Sapa Issued: Parliament Date: 2007-11-06 Reporter:

Lekota Rejects de Lille's Allegations

Publication	Sapa BC-ARMS-DELILLE
Issued	Parliament
Date	2007-11-06

ANC chairman Mosiuoa Lekota has rejected allegations by Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille that the ANC and the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund benefited inappropriately from the arms deal.

Speaking in the National Assembly on Tuesday, De Lille said allegations that the ANC received money from arms deal suppliers had been speculation up until Tuesday.

"I can now confirm that on the 29th of January 1999 the following organisations each received R500 000 from [German arms manufacturer] Thyssen-Krupp -- African National Congress, Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, Community Development Foundation.

"The money was paid into an account in Switzerland at Credit Swiss First Boston bank," De Lille said.

Responding, Lekota said there had been allegations relating to the defence strategic package for a long time.

Government had set up an investigation process to which De Lille had also been invited.

"Today she comes here, she makes an allegation that money was deposited into the account of the ANC.

"Is Ms De Lille saying that the ANC was paid money for the defence strategic package? Is that what you are saying?*1

"Because if that is what [De Lille} is saying, she must provide evidence as to where the money came from and who paid money into the ANC's account and where the ANC made an agreement that it will get money from the strategic package."

De Lille had also made an allegation that money was paid into the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, the Defence Minister said.

"Is [she] saying... that Comrade Nelson Mandela, the former president of this country, was a crook that wanted to steal money through the strategic defence package *2? Because if that is what she is saying, she must get out of this House and say it there."

The Fund was not represented in the House and had to defend itself outside.

"She can't come and use the House or Parliament in order to make allegations against instances... who are innocent, who cannot speak in this House.

"And therefore I reject with contempt, and this House must reject with contempt, these assertions she's just made here," Lekota said.

With acknowledgement to Sapa.

*1       Yes, idiot, that's what she's saying.

*2      Sad as it may sound to some (among us or otherwise), this is what has been suspected for a long time, including by people such as myself who have had access to a lot of source evidence.

*3      The only subjects deserved of contempt are :

natural persons who manipulated the Arms Deal for their own purposes;

natural persons who benefitted unlawfully in their own right from the Arms Deal;

natural persons who manipulated the outcome of the Arms Deal investigation; and

juristic persons who bribed natural persons here, there and everywhere to get a slice either unfairly or unlawfully or both at the expense of honest, law-abiding persons )both natural and juristic) offering a better product and an indigenous product at a better price.