Feinstein said such an amnesty could be a way for the country to resolve its secrecy around political party funding and return to democratic ideals. It should, however, come with full disclosure on alleged kickbacks and bribes.

"It should also be based on the return of any ill-gotten gains to the fiscus, and those who behaved inappropriately in the arms deal leaving public life," Feinstein said.

He was speaking at a seminar hosted by the Institute for Security Studies on his book - After the Party: A Personal and Political Journey Inside the ANC in Cape Town yesterday.

The book describes his political alienation after insisting on an investigation into allegations of arms deal irregularities.

Feinstein's remarks refer to behind-the-scenes suggestions that the ANC's own new in-house arms deal investigation could result in an amnesty.

Some opposition parties and media have already been lobbied to support such a move. The ANC launched a committee that would investigate allegations of arms deal corruption after the National Prosecuting Authority brought fresh arms deal-related corruption charges against ANC president Jacob Zuma in December.

Feinstein said his initial response to the suggestion of an amnesty was horror. "(But) I thought about it … and the issue of the arms deal is not necessarily about any desire to see individuals suffer, but to see the right thing done."

He also revealed that two countries whose armament companies had benefited from the arms deal, Britain and Germany, were currently investigating alleged irregular payments or bribes to "senior ANC politicians and officials" amounting to $200-million.

His book suggests that the charges against Zuma could be just the tip of the iceberg, and that the ANC was likely to have benefited from the deal, which was finalised by a subcommittee chaired by then deputy president Thabo Mbeki in 1999.

"Now the charges against Zuma will hopefully be tested in August," said Feinstein, who again alluded to the possibility that the ANC itself had benefited from arms deal kickbacks.

"And hopefully we will get to know more about the contribution of party donations (by armament companies) to the ANC, which may well have contributed to the fact that at Polokwane, the (former) treasurer-general Mendi Msimang who, by the way, Mbeki had sent to Switzerland to make financial arrangements for the ANC boasted that the ANC had a surplus of R1.7-billion. It probably makes the ANC one of the richest parties in the world."

Feinstein questioned the reasons for the new ANC's leadership's party investigation. "They would probably like to find out if the money went to the ANC and where it went," he suggested.

"They may also hope the committee could come up with information that would exonerate Zuma in the lead-up to his trial, and it could be quite useful to put pressure on Mbeki to remind him of certain aspects of condoning or solicitation of money for the ANC from the arms deal."

With acknowledgements to Christelle Terreblanche and The Star.