Publication: Business Day
Issued:
Date: 2008-03-22
Reporter: Xolela Mangcu
| Publication |
Business Day
|
| Date |
2008-03-22 |
|
Reporter |
Xolela Mangcu |
|
Web Link |
www.bday.co.za |
What did the president know, and when did he know it?
Those words were directed to Richard Nixon by a member of his own party, Howard
Baker, in the wake of the Watergate scandal.
The arms deal has become our own Watergate and worse.
Baker's question has come to have increasing resonance.
As with Nixon, the question has been raised by a senior member of Mbeki's own
party, following reports in German newspapers that our president is under
investigation for accepting bribes from German companies.
But it seems patently unfair to limit this question to Mbeki.
Is it really possible that all of the decisions about the arms deal contracts
took place without the knowledge of the Finance Minister
Trevor Manuel?
What about the role of one of the arms deal's most ardent
defenders, Alec Erwin?
I have never been able to put my finger on it but my hair has
never rested easy with some of these folks.
Vavi is absolutely right to demand that the findings of the ANC's investigation
should be made public.
With acknowledgements to Xolela Mangcu
and Business
Day.