2001

15 November 2001 - Auditor-General Shauket Fakie submits forensic investigation report into the arms deal to Parliament.

October 2001 - Tony Yengeni arrested and released on R10 000 bail.

July 2001 - German investigators begin probe into European Aeronautic Defence and Space, one of the companies at the heart of the deal.

13 June 2001 - Judge Willem Heath's resignation from the judiciary is accepted by cabinet.

11 June 2001 - The panel leading public hearings in the probe into the mullti-billion rand arms deal turns down an application for television and radio broadcasts of the proceedings to be allowed.

7 June 2001 - Motion of confidence in Speaker Frene Ginwala, introduced by ANC Chief Whip Tony Yengeni, was adopted by 192 votes, with 55 votes against and 36 abstentions.

14 May 2001 - UDM leader Bantu Holomisa sends an open letter to speaker of the National Assembly Frene Ginwala calling for the R43bn arms probe to be extended to cover the entire deal, and not just the subcontracting procedures.

24 April 2001 - The Democratic Alliance leader, Tony Leon appeals to the European Union to investigate allegations of irregularities involving EU arms suppliers to South Africa.

17 April 2001 - PAC MP Patricia de Lille and party secretary general Thami Plaatjie are summoned by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions to fully disclose all information they claim to have on ANC officials allegedly involved in irregularities in the arms deal.

9 April 2001 - Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota says the government will not pre-empt the outcome of the arms deal probe by confiscating cars received by 30 senior government individuals.

8 April 2001 - United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa has called for all cars obtained for South African VIPs by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company - EADS, to be impounded pending an investigation.

5 April 2001 - National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka says that at least 24 individuals and 68 statutory bodies are being investigated in connection with alleged fraud and corruption in the multi-billion-rand arms deal.

25 March 2001 - Sunday Times publishes article about Yengeni's financing agreement for the purchase of his Mercedes 320.

7 Feb 2001 - SCOPA meets to receive a report-back from the Auditor-General on the progress of the investigation.

29 Jan 2001 - Andrew Feinstein fired as head of the ANC group on the parliamentary public accounts committee.

25 Jan 2001 - Maduna announces intention to disband Heath unit.

19 Jan 2001 - President Mbeki announces his decision to exclude Judge Willem Heath from the investigations into the arms deal.

2000

November 2000 - Parliament's watchdog committee (SCOPA) calls for multi-agency probe into arms deal - involving Judge Heath.

15 September 2000 - the Auditor-General released a special report to Parliament.

25 Jan 2000 - Finance Minister Trevor Manuel signed loan agreements for about U$4,8bn to finance the imported component of SA's arms procurement package.

1999

3 Dec 1999 - The deal with international weapons suppliers was signed and sealed in Pretoria by Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota.

Nov 1999 - Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson visits South Africa.

10 Sept 1999 - Lekota rejects document raised in parliament and accept responsibility for procurement process.

9 Sept 1999 - Anonymously authored document about the implications of the deal was raised in Parliament.

12 March 1999 - 140 days after Yengeni's 4x4 Mercedes was first registered in his name - he signed an insurance agreement with Millionsure.

January 1999 - British Prime Minister, Tony Blair visits South Africa.

1998

18 November 1998 - Cabinet announced its preferred suppliers for the procurement of defence equipment for the SANDF.

22 October 1998 - Yengeni acquires Mercedes 320 from an employee of DaimlerChrysler.

15 Sept 1998 - The first official records of Tony Yengeni's 4 X 4 vehicle indicate that it was dispatched from Daimler Chrysler's East London office.

February 1996 to 1998 - South Africa carried out a comprehensive Defence Review including a White Paper on Defence. The Review involved the Government, Parliament, NGO's and the general public.

June 1995 - Plans to buy Spanish corvettes is suspended due to public outcry.

1994 - The South African Navy puts forward a proposal to buy four Spanish corvettes at a cost of R1,7 billion.

With acknowledgement to SABC News.