Arms deal in the spotlight
Adv. ZL Madasa MP

Tuesday, 13 August 2002

In Parliament today African Christian Democratic Party MP, Adv. ZL Madasa, gave the following speech on the Consideration of Committee Reports on Joint Investigation report into strategic Defence Procurement Packages:


Whilst there is no smoke without fire, concerns about the arms deal are now clearly water under the bridge. This is the bitter pill we must swallow.

It is now clear that the government views the arms deal as a closed matter. This does not preclude people with tangible evidence of corruption in this regard from bringing such into the light.

If we are to look into the future as we ought, I suggest that parliament must strengthen its oversight role from now on.

Chapter 9 institutions especially must be strengthened to ensure non-political interference. Parliament must ensure that those institutions are truly independent in a discernable manner.

In future we must avoid appointing supposedly retired comrades to head such institutions if we are to prevent future dubious arms deals. Law we pass must be strengthened as far as prevention of corruption and fraud is concerned.

The alleged approval by cabinet of the concept of inspectorate to oversee future arms exports and purchases is welcomed.

The Department of Defence on its part must urgently implement all SCOPA recommendations made to it to date. The new acquisition officer will do well to take note of this. The non- functioning of the audit committee since May 2001 in the Department of Defence is a case in point.

Although it is difficult to find fault in law with the report of the investigators to the arms deal, their conclusions leave a bitter taste in ones mouth.

I cannot forget the statement of the Public protector on that occasion. He said, “There was no evidence of wrongdoing by any person, that where one existed it was not sufficient to warrant a prosecution.”

That is the arms deal.


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For further comment please call Adv Z.L. Madasa MP at 083 302 4938 or ACDP Media Liaison Liza Bloemetje at 082 478 1037