Seriti not suitable to lead commission investigating arms deal

 "The announcement of Judge Willie Seriti, the chairperson of the Commission which was appointed to investigate the arms deal, that he will not be questioning any ANC members regarding the arms deal, makes him unsuitable for the investigation. With his announcement he is already revealing preferential treatment in favour of the ANC and infringes on the credibility of the commission (see Sunday Times report).

The commission should investigate and question every MP of the ANC who had been a member of the Standing Commission on Defence in the National Assembly at the time. Various foreign visits by committee members were undertaken during this period (1995 - 1999), which had been sponsored by some of the successful providers of arms," Mr. Pieter Groenewald (MP), the chief spokesperson on Defence for the Freedom Front Plus says.

 "The investigation should not only determine whether individuals were advantaged, but also whether the ANC, as governing party, had been advantaged. The tardiness with which the commission has started its work creates distrust in the commission," Groenewald said.

Statement issued by Mr. Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus chief spokesperson: Defence, March 11 2013

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