The proposed commission of inquiry into the arms deal should be able to subpoena overseas companies that benefited from the multibillion-rand transaction.
This
is according to Themba Godi, the chairman of
parliament's standing committee on public accounts,
Scopa, which recently forced the Hawks to re-open the
arms-deal probe.
The commission "should have powers to subpoena anyone it
sees fit", Godi said.
"It should be able to also engage role players from
outside the country, because if people indeed got bribes
they certainly got them from outside companies.
Otherwise we would have a half-baked story. Unless this
issue is dealt with, it will continue to cast a dark
shadow on our political landscape," said Godi.
Arms-deal whistle-blower Patricia de Lille said the
Hawks should hand over any evidence it had to the
commission.
De Lille, one of the first politicians to allege that
the deal was corrupt, said the elite crime-busting unit
had to pass on any information because the Hawks had
"hopelessly failed" to probe the arms deal properly.
This information "would include evidence gathered from
Germany, the United Kingdom and the joint investigative
task team that investigated the arms deal procurement
process", said De Lille.
The feisty politician has also suggested that the
commission of inquiry, whose terms of reference have yet
to be announced, should be able to lay criminal charges
against those found to have broken the law or taken
bribes.
Richard Young, who went to
court after his company lost its bid for an arms-deal
contract, said the commission should investigate the
initial reasons for buying weapons.
"We spent so much money it has practically crippled the
navy and the air force. They don't have enough money to
operate the equipment."
Young said the investigation should be broadened to
probe all irregularities in the procurement process and
the serious criminal allegations.
He said the commission should also investigate why the
report by the state agencies that initially probed the
arms deal was "doctored".
ANC spokesman Keith Khoza said: "The decision to
institute this inquiry forms part of the ANC's and
government's five priorities to deal with corruption.
The opposition should not see this as a victory because
the president's decision
does not stem from the pressure of the opposition
..."
Unfortunately, the political opposition to the president
and his ruling gang of thieves is very light.
Then we have civil society opposition in the likes of
Terry Crawford-Browne, who has proved himself to be a
particular heavy gorilla indeed.
Then we have me who likes to think that he has proved
himself to be a particular irritating guerilla in the
Arms Deal.
A R40 million rash of French and Chippy Shaik arrogance
in May 1999 has come back in 2011 with compound interest
of about 1 000%.
Moynot with his gabbas Zuma and Alain Thetard have so
far avoided Westvillle Penitentiary by the proverbial,
as has Chippy Shaik Shaik.
Jonny Kamerman the Large Mouthed assenine purveyor of
the Kamerman Klas Korvetten has scuttled off to
Singapore as Vice-President of International Sales for
the very company that bribed Zooma and his gang of
thieves to an amount of some R600 million to win the
frigate and submarine deals.
No pressure indeed?