The ANC is to close ranks against an attempt to reopen investigations into
the multi-billion-rand arms deal when Parliament's standing committee on public
accounts (Scopa) is asked next week to adopt a resolution to this effect
proposed by the DA.
A heated debate erupted in Scopa's meeting yesterday when Eddie Trent (DA)
introduced a proposed resolution that the committee review progress made in
implementing its reports on the arms deal and look into allegations contained in
retired ANC MP and former Scopa member Andrew Feinstein's book on the deal.
Lorraine Mashiane (ANC) questioned Trent's bona fides, suggesting the resolution
was intended to embarrass the ANC.
Vincent Smith (ANC) warned that any fresh probe would damage Scopa's
"apolitical" nature.
"Let's be very clear. When (ANC committee members) come back (next week), it
will become a party-political position it will no longer be the apolitical work
of Scopa," he warned. "It will take Scopa back to the days of party-political
infighting."
Mashiane added that the ANC "will not be nice about it".
"Being nice means being apolitical. If we come back (next week), that is what
you must expect," she said.
A number of MPs asked for the matter to be postponed to give them more time to
study the one-page DA resolution and to consult their parties.
Scopa chairperson Themba Godi, of the African People's
Convention, agreed that the matter be tabled next week.
In his book, After the Party, Feinstein claims that the ANC received
donations for its 1999 election coffers from successful arms deal bidders.
He also alleges improper interference in Scopa's original investigation into the
arms deal by a number of senior ANC members, several of them in parliamentary
office and in the Cabinet.
Feinstein chaired the ANC's public accounts study group during the initial
investigation, but was later replaced.
According to Feinstein, he was removed for refusing to bow to party-political
pressure in an attempt to preserve Scopa's apolitical tradition.
Members of the ANC now on the committee appear to be concerned that a renewed
Scopa inquiry into the arms deal would compel them to
abandon their apolitical approach and bow to the inevitable party-political
pressure to block such probes.
Trent issued a statement later yesterday welcoming that the arms deal issue was
back on Scopa's agenda.
"We also understand that the members of Scopa require more time to consider the
substance of the evidence presented today and to take a considered and
independent view on this issue in the best interests of the country," he said.
He said Scopa's "responsibilities and obligations relating to investigating
alleged irregularities and corruption associated with the arms deal have yet to
be fulfilled".
"Andrew Feinstein has of this issue in the best interests of the country."
Scopa's "responsibilities and obligations relating to investigating alleged
irregularities and corruption associated with the arms deal have yet to
be fulfilled", Trent said.
"Andrew Feinstein has made a number of serious allegations of cover-ups and
corruption relating to the arms deal in his book. To date, none of these has
been denied or refuted."
According to Trent, other unfinished business includes the manner in which the
final report by the joint investigating team the multi-agency team appointed to
investigate the arms deal was changed before being tabled.
He also notes that investigators in Germany, Britain, Sweden and Switzerland are
probing issues relating to the arms deal.
With
acknowledgement to Deon de Lange and Cape Times
*1What transparent wossops?
Their own party is re-investigating yet SCOPA may not even continue an
investigation that it started, but has not yet finished.
How resolute will Temba Godi prove to be?
But the problem is now that the ANC has stolen a 67% majority in Parliament and
SCOPA using gold amalgam and Arms Deal financing, the simple will of the
majority rules.
Good governance is the last thing on the agenda of these democrats.
Maybe SCOPA's re-opening of the Arms Deal investigation needs to be delayed
until May 2009.