The African National Congress (ANC) yesterday denied reports that it had
summoned President Thabo Mbeki to account for his role in the arms deal.
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe told reporters following the party's
national executive committee (NEC) meeting that ANC businessman Tokyo Sexwale
had merely alerted the meeting to international media reports regarding the arms
deal.
"The ANC wants to place on record that the statements contained in the newspaper
reports do not reflect what was actually said. In fact, Sexwale alerted the NEC
about claims that had been published in the German press and had asked that the
leadership monitor coverage of this issue," he said.
The country's controversial multibillion-rand arms deal is again the focus of
public attention, with opposition parties calling for Mbeki to explain his role
in the process. Mbeki was deputy president and chairman of cabinet's
sub-committee, which dealt with the weapons deal at the time.
Mbeki is the latest in a series of ANC figures to be linked to alleged
wrongdoing concerning the agreement. ANC president Jacob Zuma is facing 16
charges of corruption regarding the arms deal. Former ANC chief whip Tony
Yengeni was found guilty of defrauding Parliament for receiving an undeclared
discount on a luxury German car.
Zuma's trial in August could see Mbeki and members of the cabinet being called
to testify. Zuma has threatened to drag the executive to court when he faces the
National Prosecuting Authority.
Mantashe also said that the ANC's committee set up to compile an internal report
into the arms deal would brief the NEC in May .
He said the ANC had not been asked by German authorities to put pressure on the
government to co-operate with their probe into alleged irregularities in the
arms deal.
On Friday, the Mail and Guardian reported that Mbeki, some government officials
and the ANC had financially benefited from the arms deal.
According to the newspaper report, German arms giant ThyssenKrupp desperately
lobbied the government in particular Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla to
head off German investigations into the arms deal.
The German prosecuting authorities are probing claims that a company bribed
South African officials and politicians to land a contract for warships for the
navy. They have formally asked South African officials for help.
The ANC meeting also expressed concern over the "quality
and bias" of media coverage *1 of the ANC's leaders and activities.
"This has been demonstrated in recent reporting in statements made by the ANC
president" said Mantashe.
With acknowledgements to Amy Musgrave, Karima Brown
and Business
Day.
*1Come on people, sauce for the
goose is sauce for the gander.