Cabinet also noted reports in the media regarding the oncoming trial pertaining to a secondary contract * in the arms procurement process.

Government wishes to reiterate that the issues to be canvassed in this court case do not detract from the integrity of the procurement process in so far as it involved government. Neither does it raise suggestions of influence by anyone on government's decisions which dealt essentially with the primary procurement process. It should also be emphasised that charges and allegations by investigators cannot be the basis of presumption of guilt, without due process**.

With regard to matters relating to the Deputy President in particular, government has noted his public response to the allegations, and it takes him at his word. It is hoped that the media will respect the dignity of the office of the Deputy President - and judicial institutions - and not impugn his integrity on the basis of allegations not proven in a court of law.

For further enquiries contact:
Joel Netshitenzhe
Cell: 082 900 0083

Issued by: Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)
6 October 2004

With acknowledgement to GCIS.

* These goons will never stop lying and/or equivocating.

The truth of the matter is that the supply of the ADS and Thomson-CSF equipment should have been corvette sub-elements subject to sub-contract. But to make "fly" the plan to guarantee the combat management system and combat suite sensors to Thomson-CSF, an ingenious scheme was derived by the DoD and Armscor, a European Corvette Consortium for South Africa (ESACC) was formed and the contract placed on this consortium as follows : Part A of the contract for the corvette platform went to the German Frigate Consortium (GFC); Part B of the contract for the combat management system and combat suite sensors (surveillance radar, sonar, IFF interrogator, etc.) went to Thomson Navale and ADS; Part C of the contract for the balance of the combat suite elements went to Thomson Navale and ADS to place sub-contracts on the relevant sub-contracts.

** Let the due processes begin.