New list has just new names

Former president. Thabo Mbeki*1, Trevor Manuel and other high-profile ANC members, the country's expensive arms deal Seriti Commission should explain.

The commission yesterday afternoon announced a new list of the first seven witnesses.

Mosiuoa Lekota and Ronnie Kasrils, then minister and deputy minister of defense, Alec Erwin, former Minister of Trade and Industry, the Department of Defense, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Treasury is called to explain the rationale for the controversial deal was.

The commission initially called 12 witnesses, but none of the names on the new list.

After months of delay, the hearings on August 5, starting with the Department of Defence as the first witness.

Mbeki and Manuel apear in January in the witness box.

Six days are set aside for Manuel and five days for Mbeki's testimony.

Mbeki was back in the cabinet committee recommendation to cabinet and parliament have to buy the weapons.

"He was a key figure and will know all of the approvals and preparations.

"Manuel is also a preferred witness," former Judge Willem Heath, who examined the arms deal in 2001, said earlier.

Manuel then signed off the loan agreements for arms purchases.

Terry Crawford-Browne, arms deal activist, said the new list of witnesses including ANC senior officials is a step in the right direction.

Adv. Paul Hoffman, director of the Institute for Accountability in Southern Africa and Crawford-Browne's lawyer, said the ANC senior officials have beed called to explain why they spend so much on unnecessary weapons.

"It's bloody impossible *2. How does it make sense to spend billions on weapons that are still in boxes? "

Dr. Richard Young, one of the unsuccessful bidders in the arms deal, said he hopes the commission does not handle the ANC senior officials with kid gloves.

David Maynier, DA spokesperson on defense, said it was positive that Mbeki and other members of his cabinet who were responsible for the arms deal be brought before the commission.

"The big question is whether the witnesses will be cross-examined and, if so, will be how well the cross-examination. It is in any case not enough to save the badly damaged reputation of the commission, "said Maynier.

William Baloyi, spokesman for the commission, said all the witnesses have been notified.

*1       Hy gaan kak in sy broek.

Seriti sê wie moet praat

Beeld
James-Brent Styan en Maryna Lamprecht
16 July 2013
http://www.beeld.com/nuus/2013-07-16-seriti-s-wie-moet-praat


Nuwe lys het nét nuwe name op

Oudpres. Thabo Mbeki*1, Trevor Manuel en ander hoëprofiel-ANC-lede gaan die land se peperduur wapentransaksie voor die Seriti-kommissie moet verduidelik.

Die kommissie het gistermiddag ’n splinternuwe lys bekend gemaak van die eerste sewe getuies.

Mosiuoa Lekota en Ronnie Kasrils, destydse minister en adjunkminister van verdediging, Alec Erwin, oudminister van handel en nywerheid, die departement van verdediging, die departement van handel en nywerheid en die nasionale tesourie is ook geroep om te verduidelik wat die beweegrede vir die omstrede transaksie was.

Die kommissie het aanvanklik 12 getuies geroep, maar nie een van dié se name is op die nuwe lys nie.

Ná maande se uitstel sal die verhore op 5 Augustus begin met die departement van verdediging as die eerste getuie.

Mbeki en Manuel sal in Januarie in die getuiebank inskuif.

Ses dae is opsy gesit vir Manuel en vyf dae vir Mbeki se getuienis.

Mbeki was destyds in die kabinetskomitee wat die aanbeveling aan die kabinet en die parlement gedoen het om die wapens te koop.

“Hy was ’n kernfiguur en sal alles van die goedkeurings en voorbereidings weet.

“Manuel is ook ’n voorkeurgetuie,” het oudregter Willem Heath, wat die wapentransaksie in 2001 ondersoek het, vroeër gesê.

Manuel het destyds die leningsooreenkomste vir die wapenaankope afgeteken.

Terry Crawford-Browne, wapentransaksie-aktivis, het gister gesê die nuwe lys getuies wat ANC-hoës insluit is ’n stap in die regte rigting.

Adv. Paul Hoffman, direkteur van die Instituut vir Verantwoordbaarheid in Suider-Afrika en Crawford-Browne se regsverteenwoordiger, het gesê die ANC-hoës gaan moet bontstaan om te verduidelik waarom hulle so baie aan onnodige wapens bestee het.

“Dit gaan blerrie onmoontlik wees. Hoe maak dit sin om miljarde te bestee aan wapens wat vandag nog in bokse is?”

Dr. Richard Young, een van die onsuksesvolle tenderaars in die wapentransaksie, het gesê hy hoop nie die kommissie gaan die ANC-hoës “met handskoene” hanteer nie.

David Maynier, DA-woordvoerder oor verdediging, het gesê dit is positief dat Mbeki en ander lede van sy kabinet wat verantwoordelik was vir die wapentransaksie voor die kommissie gedaag word.

“Die groot vraag is of dié getuies onder kruisverhoor geneem sal word en indien wel, hoe deeglik die kruisverhoor sal wees. Dit is in elk geval nie genoeg om die erg beskadigde reputasie van die kommissie te red nie,” het Maynier gesê.

William Baloyi, woordvoerder van die kommissie, het gesê al die getuies is reeds in kennis gestel.

With acknowledgement to Maryna Lamprecht, James-Brent Styan en Beeld.

*1       Hy gaan kak in sy broek.