Publication: Cape Times Issued: Date: 2009-04-01 Reporter:

Close Book on Arms Deal - Malema

 

Publication 

Cape Times
Date

2009-04-01
Web Link www.capetimes.co.za


The leader of the ANC Youth League, Julius Malema, has called for an end to persistent allegations of corruption in the government's multimillion-rand arms deal.

Speaking during SAfm's After Eight debate on Tuesday, Malema said the chapter on Jacob Zuma's alleged arms deal bribes should be closed, as should that on the broader investigations into the arms deal.

"I think the issue of the arms deal, we have concluded on that matter, and I think really we should not be discussing a matter that had been discussed for the last eight years or so," he said.

"It is not helping us. I think we need to close that chapter and move forward."

Malema's remarks give credence to indications that the widely expected withdrawal of charges against Zuma could include a broader political deal that would put a lid on probes into allegations that former president Thabo Mbeki and the ruling party may have benefited irregularly from the deals.

Mbeki has consistently denied any wrongdoing in the arms acquisition process, noting that the 2000 joint investigative team cleared the government *1 of wrongdoing in the main arms deal contracts.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) announced a year ago that it had reopened its investigations into other aspects of the deal - understood to include allegations that Mbeki received nearly R30-million from a German consortium awarded a tender for submarines.

NPA officials recently told Parliament they were struggling to access information held by German investigators, who had closed their probe.

Well-placed sources have said the bid to stay charges against Zuma includes letting off the hook those alleged to have been implicated in colluding in Zuma's prosecution.

Transcripts of the recordings are understood to be part of Zuma's legal team's submissions to the NPA.

It has been claimed they include discussions between Mbeki, then-NPA chief Bulelani Ngcuka and then-Scorpions boss Leonard McCarthy.

Mbeki's spokesperson, Mukoni Ratshitanga, has said the allegation that Mbeki interfered in Zuma's prosecution is "a lie".

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With acknowledgements to Cape Times.


*1       The 2001 Joint Investigation Report cleared the government of wrong doing.

This in itself was the second biggest ever perpetration of wrongdoing against the populace after the Arms Deal itself.

Three stooges Shauket Fakie CA(SA), Selby Baqwa SC and Bulelani Ngcuka should have been charged with defeating the ends of justice and fraud against parliament for this giant conspiracy.