Publication: Cape Argus Issued: Date: 2007-02-17 Reporter: Michael Schmidt

All Guns and Roses as New Frigate Arrives

 

Publication 

Cape Argus
Date

2007-02-17

Reporter

 Michael Schmidt

Web Link

www.capeargus.co.za

 

The 19-gun salute fired from the frigate SAS Amatola *2 to greet the commissioning of her sister ship SAS Spioenkop drowned out rumours of corruption that continue to dog the strategic arms deal.

While German investigators probe allegations that Chippy Shaik, the former head of the controversial arms acquisition programme, was paid a $3 million bribe by German ship-building firm ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, the company's flag was proudly flying alongside those of its partners *1 in the four-frigate deal at the Simon's Town naval dockyard yesterday.

Herbert Lauffs, the senior vice-president of the company's Blohm+Voss shipyard *3 in Hamburg where the Spioenkop was built, told a host of military delegates and industry guests that the company was committed to a long-term industrial partnership with South Africa.

The Amatola has already proven itself at sea on exercises with the German navy last year, while the second ship, the SAS Isandlwana, did likewise during exercises with the Argentine, Brazilian and Uruguayan navies.

Lauffs said Britain's Royal Navy viewed the frigates and crews of the South African Navy (SAN) as world-class.

Last month, the German newspaper Spiegel printed documents alleged to be internal ThyssenKrupp papers showing that a payment had been made to a London bank account controlled by Shaik in 2000.

ThyssenKrupp spokesman Stephen Laufer would only say the company was unable to comment while investigations were on-going.

But the mood at the quayside was up-tempo yesterday, with Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota receiving the frigate from the shipbuilders, describing the rejuvenated SAN as a true "people's navy".

The Spioenkop, named after the devastating Boer defeat of a numerically superior British invasion force in Natal in 1900, is the third new navy frigate to be commissioned.

The fourth, the SAS Mendi, will come under the command of Captain Jimmy Schutte at a ceremony in Port Elizabeth next month - and it is widely believed that a fifth frigate, the option for which was part of the original deal, may now be signed for.

Acknowledged to be a world leader in its class *4 because of its manoeuverability, low radar and heat signatures and adaptability to a variety of roles including humanitarian relief, the frigates will increasingly be deployed in support of south-south ocean-policing and nautical diplomacy missions, Lekota said.

The country had confidence that the Spioenkop, crewed by a mostly black complement that includes 16 women, would help uphold international law, he said.

With acknowledgements to Michael Schmidt and Cape Argus.


*1      One such partner being Thales International whose two South African subsidiaries have already been indicted for corruption involving the frigates' combat suite.


*2      At the commissioning and handing over ceremony of the SAS Amatola, Thales local CEO, Pierre Robert Jean-Marie Moynot, was there.

So was I - at the invitation of the SA Navy for having successfully delivered a fully South African developed critical sub-system for the combat suite - in time, within budget and without bribing anyone.

One one Mr Moynot's underlings sidled up to be and told me that I must really have a thick skin to be attending the ceremony.

Now both the platform supplier and combat suite supplier have been indicated of corruption in the deal - on the foreign side.

On the local side Thyssen's partner in crime is none other than the SA Department of Defence's chief of Acquisitions - Dr Chippy Shaik and Thales's partners are Mr Schabir Shaik and Dr Jacob Zuma.

One wonders if Thyssen's Christoff Hoenings was in attendance, or was his absence a prudent one to avoid a warrant of arrest being issued.

Also probably in attendance the Boy's Own Wonder Rear Admiral (Junior Grade) (Retired) Jonathan Edward Gold Kamerman, Project Sitron's former Project Officer, who retired straight through that revolving door to become ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems's Vice President for Internal Sales.

The news is that Wonder Rear Admiral (Junior Grade) (Retired) Jonathan Edward Gold Kamerman and Doctor of Engineering Shamin Shaik have teamed up in trying to sell three MEKO 200AS frigates to Angola and another to Mozambique.

Whatta opportunity - whatta pair of boys.


*3      Seems as if B+V was representing the German Frigate Consortium as this auspicious occasion, the ten responsible Thyssen executives for Project Sitron all fearing a warrant of arrest for bribery and 15 years in St Augustine Hospital.


*4      With four MEKO 200 AS's in the capable hands of our Angolan and Mozambique neighbours, it sets the scene for a well-matched naval engagement *5.


*5      Except if our neighbours buy a slightly better anti-ship missile than the Exocet MM40 - then the South African class will really get a chance to earn its name of valour-class.