Die ondersoek na Suid-Afrika se omstrede wapentransaksie gaan die land etlike miljoene rande meer kos as waarvoor begroot is.

William Baloyi, woordvoerder van die Seriti-kommissie, het aan Beeld bevestig die R40 miljoen wat vir die kommissie se werk opsy gesit is, sal te min wees.

Die kommissie het in November 2011 met sy ondersoek na die multimiljardrand-wapentransaksie van die laat 1990’s begin en moet sy werk binne twee jaar voltooi.

Die openbare verhore wat vandeesweek in Pretoria sou begin, is intussen tot November uitgestel en die kommissie het erken dat hy nie sy sperdatum gaan haal nie.

Baloyi het gesê die kommissie gaan sowat ’n jaar uitstel vra en aansoek doen om nog geld.

“Ons het nog nie aansoek gedoen om uitstel nie, maar dit is duidelik dat ons so ’n versoek sal moet rig.

“Ons dink nie die aanvanklike begroting sal genoeg wees as ons uitstel kry nie en ons sal nog geld moet vra.”

Terry Crawford-Browne, wapentransaksie-aktivis, het gesê dit is ’n aanduiding van die “chaos” wat by die kommissie heers en ’n agenda om die ondersoek doelbewus uit te rek.

“Ons vermoed regter Willie Seriti (kommissievoorsitter) en sommige van sy personeellede probeer die ondersoek onbepaald uitrek totdat die publiek moeg raak vir die saak.”

Norman Moabi, ’n voormalige ondersoeker van die kommissie, het vroeër vanjaar bedank en ook aangevoer die kommissie het ’n “tweede agenda”.

Richard Young, een van die onsuksesvolle tenderaars in die wapentransaksie, het gesê die kommissie het die afgelope 18 maande bitter min uitgerig.

“Ek weet nie wat hulle bereik het nie. Dit lyk of hulle R40 miljoen verkwis het. As dit so lank duur om die tien gewillige getuies te kry om te getuig, hoe lank gaan dit duur om Krygkor, die Suid-Afrikaanse vloot, Chippy Shaik, Tony Yengeni en al die ander in die getuiebank te kry?”

David Maynier, DA-woordvoerder oor verdediging, het gesê dit verbaas hom nie dat die kommissie uitstel nodig het nie.

“Daar is berge dokumente wat geëvalueer moet word deur kenners in die kommissie.”

Die kommissie moet die nodige hulpbronne gegee word om hul taak te voltooi, het hy gesê.

“Die kommissie is ons laaste hoop om by die waarheid uit te kom van wat blykbaar die grootste korrupsieskandaal in die land se geskiedenis is.”

With acknowledgement to Maryna Lamprecht and Beeld.

[human-assisted Google translation]


Seriti asking for more money

The investigation into South Africa's controversial arms deal will cost the country several millions more than budgeted.

William Baloyi, spokesperson the Seriti commission, confirmed to Beeld that the R40 million set aside for the commission's work will not be enough.

The commission in November 2011 began its work with its investigation into the multibillion-arms deal of the late 1990s and should have completed its work within two years.

The public hearings in Pretoria were have to begun this week, have been postponed to November and the commission admitted that it will not make its deadline.

Baloyi said the commission would inquire about a year extension and have to apply for more money.

"We have not applied for an extension, but it is clear that such a request is required.

"We do not think that the initial budget will be enough if we should ask for a postponement and therefore we will need more money."

Terry Crawford-Browne, arms deal activist, said it was an indication of the "chaos" that prevails at the commission and an agenda to deliberately stretch out the investigation.

"We suspect Judge Willie Seriti (commission chairman) and some of his staff tried to stretch the investigation indefinitely until the public gets tired of the case."

Norman Moabi, a former investigator of the commission, resigned earlier this year and also argued the commission had a "second agenda".

Richard Young, one of the unsuccessful bidders in the arms deal, said the commission had achieved bitterly little over the past 18 months.

"I do not know what they have achieved. It seems they squandered R40 million*1. If it has taken so long to get the ten willing witnesses to testify, how long will it take to get Armscor, the South African Navy, Chippy Shaik, Tony Yengeni and all the others in tothe witness stand? "

David Maynier, DA spokesman on defence, said it surprised him that the commission needed postponement.

"There are mountains of documents that must be evaluated by experts in the commission."

The commission should be given the necessary resources to complete their task, he said.

"The commission is our last hope to get to the truth of what is apparently the biggest corruption scandal in the country's history."

I didn't say that it seemed that they had squandered R40 million.

I said that it seemed that they had squandered R30 million.

Next stop Makoevlei.