Attack on Arms Procurement Commission unacceptable

04 January 2016

The response of the Democratic Alliance party to the submission of the final report of the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of Fraud, Corruption, Impropriety or Irregularity in the Strategic Defence Procurement Package (“Arms Procurement Commission”) by the chairperson Judge Willie Seriti and commissioner Judge Thekiso Musi is unwarranted, shocking, irresponsible and totally unacceptable.

The report was submitted to the President on the 30th of December 2015.

The DA, through MP Mr David Maynier said the “Arms Procurement Commission has been embroiled in controversy from the start and expectations are that, at least when it comes to the crucial question of whether the arms deal was tainted by fraud and corruption, the final report will be a whitewash and that those who were alleged to have been involved in arms deal corruption, including President Jacob Zuma himself, have nothing to fear’’.

The party has cast aspersions on the integrity of two senior judges who have worked meticulously for four years to uncover what exactly happened around the arms procurement process. The report has also not been released to the public yet. The DA is thus attacking a report they have not even seen. Parties represented in parliament should play their part in promoting support and respect for the judiciary and all institutions of our constitutional democracy at all times.

The President once again thanks Judge Seriti and the Commission for the work done to assist the country find out what transpired during this process. The President will release the report to the public as soon as he has concluded the necessary processing thereof.

Statement issued by Bongani Majola, The Presidency, 4 January 2015