Minister's attack will not stop the hard questions surrounding R1 billion satellite bungle
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula's veiled attack will not stop me asking hard questions about Defence Intelligence's bungled R1 billion satellite development project, called "Project Flute".
We know that on 19 May 2006 a contract, with an initial value of R1.2 billion, was signed with a Russian company called NPO Mashinostroyenia, to develop a Kondor-E radar imaging satellite for Defence Intelligence, under "Project Flute".
The contract to develop the Kondor-E satellite is believed to have been bungled because Defence Intelligence would not have control over the satellite and would not be able to control it from South Africa.
The scandal surrounding "Project Flute" is therefore about maladministration and possible corruption.
The Minister is clearly under political pressure and believes that attack is the best form of defence.
The Minister accuses me of undermining national security.
This is absolute rubbish: exposing a bungled satellite development project, which after eight years and spending more than R1 billion, has not launched a satellite, hardly compromises national security.
The Minister also accuses me of serving foreign interests.
This is also rubbish: by asking the hard questions I am exercising my constitutional duty to scrutinise and oversee national government and am serving the interests of South Africa.
I am not going to sit back and allow the Minster to cover up the R1 billion satellite bungle and will continue to ask the hard questions about "Project Flute".
We need to know:
- Whether there is an on-going project to develop a radar imaging satellite;
- How the project to develop the radar imaging satellite was bungled;
- Who, following the investigation by the Auditor-General, and the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence, was held accountable for the bungle; and
- How much has been spent on the project to develop a radar imaging satellite?
The Minister cannot remain silent.
Statement issued by David Maynier MP, DA Shadow Minister of Defence & Military Veterans, January 23 2014
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