Publication: Cape Times Issued: Date: 2008-01-29 Reporter: Sibusiso Ngalwa

ANC's Arms Deal Investigation will Take Off in March

 

Publication 

Cape Times
Date

2008-01-29
Reporter Sibusiso Ngalwa

Web Link

 www.capetimes.co.za


The ANC's ad-hoc committee tasked with investigating the controversial arms deal will only begin its work after the party's NEC is expected to spell out the committee's terms of reference in March.

The seven-member committee was announced by the party's second highest decision-making body after its first meeting earlier this month - which also reaffirmed Jacob Zuma as the ANC's candidate for the country's presidency.

Committee member and SA Communist Party Deputy General Secretary Jeremy Cronin told the Cape Times last night that the committee was still awaiting its terms of reference and the scope of its investigations. The committee is expected to draw up a detailed report for the NEC's consideration.

Cronin said that his understanding was that the party's national working committee would draft the terms of reference and table them at the NEC meeting in March.

"When we met at the (ANC) lekgotla those terms of reference had not been made ... The March NEC is one which I think we would anticipate getting the terms of reference and perhaps begin to work," he said.

It still remained unclear whether the committee would call President Thabo Mbeki to give evidence or whether Zuma would be called.

"All of those things (on who will appear before the committee *1) will have to be worked out once there are terms of reference" said Cronin.

Although the move to set up the committee has been viewed with suspicion by opposition parties, the party's secretary- general, Gwede Mantashe, has maintained that the ruling party merely wanted a detailed formal report on the multi-billion rand deal so that it could take informed decisions on the charges against Zuma. This, Mantashe had said, was not an attempt to re-open the arms deal probe.

The committee is made of Cronin, ANC Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, ANC Treasurer-General Mathews Phosa and Siphiwe Nyanda, the former head of the SA National Defence Force.

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa has dismissed the committee as an attempt to protect Zuma.

With acknowledgements to Sibusiso Ngalwa and Cape Times.


*1       Who indeed will appear before the committee?

Kangaroo law.