DA calls for action from SCOPA on Arms Deal, and not more postponements

The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Friday wrote to the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), Mr Themba Godi, urging him to ensure that the numerous unanswered questions regarding corruption related to the arms deal are finally resolved. To do this, Mr Godi must put the issue of the Arms Deal back on

 SCOPA's agenda for when it sits again later this month, and summon key people to answer the myriad unresolved questions in relation to the arms deal. In particular, we call upon Mr Godi to summon the following people:

Adv. Sibongile Mzinyathi, who replaced Leonard McCarthy as Head of the Scorpions to brief the committee on any current DSO investigations into issues related to the arms deal, as well as on the level of commitment received from government in relation to these investigations;

The Minister of Justice, to answer questions relating to South Africa's cooperation with the German and British corruption investigations

The Ministers of Defence and Trade and Industry to explain why the multi-billion rand benefits from offset programmes have yet to materialise.

SCOPA must revive its role in the Arms Deal investigation and take action instead of creating further delays. The committee itself undertook to investigate further if new evidence came to light, but how can we access new evidence when no one will put the matter on the agenda? Specifically, SCOPA undertook to pursue the spirit and principles as requested by the DA as follows:

The Auditor-General's finding that proper procedures were not followed in the awarding of sub-contracts;

Whether the off-set commitments have been fulfilled; and

Whether action has been taken against certain individuals identified in the Joint Investigation Report who were alleged to have acted improperly, including Chippy Shaik.

Mr Godi's recent failure to grant the DA unrestricted access to confidential Arms Deal documents in Parliament's safekeeping is yet another example of how our efforts are repeatedly being obstructed. The DA has already appealed against the Department of Justice's refusal to release the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) agreements between South Africa and Germany and Britain.

Being blocked at Parliament is yet another example of how government's claims that there were no irregularities in the Arms Deal cannot be trusted. If there is nothing to hide, why are our requests to access documents and read them for ourselves repeatedly obstructed?

We do not accept any further delays or excuses. Mr Godi must investigate the Arms Deal further at SCOPA now or else explain why he will not do so.

Statement issued by Eddie Trent MP, Democratic Alliance spokesperson on the arms deal, September 7 2008