Publication: Democratic Alliance
Issued:
Date: 2008-01-15
Reporter: Eddie Trent
|
DA
to Question President on the Arms Deal Ad Hoc Committee |
Statement by Eddie Trent, MP
DA Spokesperson on the Arms Deal
15 January 2008
The fact that the ANC have established an internal committee to probe the arms
deal is well known. However, given lack of clarity on the scope, role and powers
of the arms deal ad hoc committee, the Democratic Alliance (DA) will be
submitting parliamentary questions to the President in order to obtain answers.
In particular, the DA will be asking the President the following:
- What guarantees can the President give Parliament and the public that
the ANC ad hoc committee arms deal probe will not be allowed access
to official and/or confidential documents during their internal party
investigation without following transparent and official procedures;
- If the ad hoc committee is allowed access to such documents, will
the same documents be made available to the general public, and if not, why
not; and
- How will the President ensure that state resources, contacts and
information are not used to further the interests of the ANC within the
ad hoc committee probe.
The DA believes that it is a matter of great importance that we receive clarity
on how the ad hoc committee will proceed. According to anonymous National
Prosecuting Authority sources, if the ANC attempted to access confidential legal
documents outside correct channels, such as the Promotion of Access to
Information Act, it would be in breach of the law.
It is also crucial that the public is confident that the state resources will
not be used to further the internal interests of the ANC, as it is widely
believed to be the case that the main purpose behind the ad hoc committee
is to conduct a witch-hunt through the ANC ranks.
Media Enquiries:
Eddie Trent MP - 083 600 8949
Martin Slabbert - 082 320 1890 With
acknowledgements to Eddie Trent.