Publication: Cape Argus Issued: Date: 2009-06-08 Reporter: Ella Smook

Military systems man joins court bid

 

Publication 

Cape Argus
Date

2009-06-08
Reporter Ella Smook

Web Link

www.capeargus.co.za



Businessman Richard Young has applied to the Pretoria High Court to become a co-applicant in the DA's bid for a review of the decision to discontinue President Jacob Zuma's prosecution.

The DA's standing to bring the application has been called into question, but Young said "nobody in their right mind can say that I don't (have standing)".

During the arms deal procurement process, a system developed by Young's company, CCII Systems, was selected then de-selected for inclusion in the combat suite of the navy's patrol corvettes.

Young says his complaint about "clear and justifiable favouritism, amounting to illegality" in the awarding of the contract led to the conviction of Schabir Shaik.

Arguing his standing to join the application, Young said it should be clear that he was the primary and original complainant in regard to the criminal proceedings against Zuma.

Young argues that the decision by acting National Director of Public Prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe to withdraw charges against Zuma was based on "the narrowest of points".

He said it was clear the NPA had lost its appetite to proceed as a result of political changes. But the duty of a prosecutor was to take a matter to its conclusion.

With acknowledgements to Cape Argus.


I am most pleased as to the new terminology used to describe me, viz. "Military systems man".

This is far better than Arms Dealer, or as Michael Kuper SC for the DoD, described me to the judge as "well-heeled arms dealer".

I am electronics engineer who deals in commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) electronic products and systems, none of which are even subject to the Wassenaar Arrangement or the Wassenaar List of Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.

The heels I normally wear are a pair of Spirale rubber gumboots purchased at the BNK agricultural co-operative store (about R350 at the last count) or a pair of Bata men's hard toe laceups (about R250 at the last count) for more formal occasions. Sometimes on cold winter mornings I wear a pair of Emu Ridge sheepskin boots (about R400 at the last count) purchased online from Australia.

Occasionally, but only very occasionally (mainly because the dorsal spine of a juvenile sea barbel goes right through them, as does any of the four spikes of a duivel doring), I even wear a pair of Crocs (about R250 at the last count on special), but never in public, and only green in colour.