Parliament faces more controversy over the arms deal as parliamentary committees prepare to quiz the investigators this week.

Auditor-General Shauket Fakie, Public Protector Selby Baqwa and National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka will appear before a joint sitting of the committees to answer questions about their forensic report into the arms deal.

There was no time for questions when they tabled their report two weeks ago.

The seven committees will come together on Tuesday and Wednesday for the question-and-answer session.

Opposition parties doubt this is enough time for questions.

"The key is whether parliament will be able to fully discharge its oversight role in terms of the constitution (if only two days are allowed for all committees)," said Democratic Alliance spokeswoman on public accounts Raenette Taljaard. "If the proceedings fall short, madam Speaker would most certainly be approached."

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said the latest in a "string of farcical attempts at sidelining Scopa (the standing committee on public accounts)" was the decision that the investigators would appear before a "mass meeting" of committees.

He said that if their answers were insufficient, it would necessitate the appearance of the cabinet sub-committee on acquisitions and its chairman, President Thabo Mbeki, before Scopa.

Gavin Woods, Inkatha Freedom Party MP and head of Scopa, which is charged with overall scrutiny of the report on the arms deal probe, said it would be very difficult to complete his work on time.

But ANC Scopa representative Vincent Smith said on Sunday there was never any chance that the seven committees - Scopa, the two committees on defence, and those on justice, finance, public administration, and trade and industry - would individually call the investigators.

"I have absolutely no sympathy for whoever said there would not be enough time," Smith said.

He said he had suggested at the last meeting that the committee prepare questions as a unit, but that the others declined to co-operate.

He expects the report to be completed by December 13.

Most opposition parties have declined a request by Fakie to submit their questions ahead of Tuesday's meeting.
On Sunday, Holomisa released 29 questions his party would like to be answered. The UDM wants cabinet ministers and Mbeki to be interrogated on the arms deal, a suggestion rejected by the ANC.

With acknowledgement to Christelle Terreblanche, The Star and Independent Online.