I have no intention of engaging in a public/media spat with Mr Moabi. Nonetheless, I feel obliged to briefly comment on some of his latest utterances, which are contained in a letter that was extensively quoted in the Mail & Guardian of Friday, 25 January 2013. The letter purports to be addressed to me but it reached the Commission after its contents were disclosed in the Mail & Guardian. Interestingly it was copied to Mr Paul Hoffman and some journalists.
In my earlier statement I focused on the gravamen of the central allegation that I have a secret agenda and did not accordingly address what appear to be side issues. An invitation is now being made for me to undergo a lie detector test. My response is that a lie detector test is no substitute for facts. If Mr Moabi had proof of the second agenda that he alleges he should simply have produced it. He cannot rely on his misplaced perceptions.
I note that he also throws aspersions on the bona fides of the evidence leaders who, on their own initiative, issued a media statement stating their views on the alleged second agenda. He even disputes that consultations and planning sessions with them, where their inputs were sought, ever took place.
I find this unbelievable and appalling. The last of the workshops with the evidence leaders took place on the 24 November 2012 at the Irene Country Lodge in Pretoria, which was followed by a media conference. The members of the internal legal team had been invited to this meeting and were expected to attend but only he absconded for reasons that have not been disclosed to me.
I wish to make it clear that the Commission will henceforth not respond to any further media enquiries or questions relating to the allegations made by Mr Moabi. In this regard, I point out that the proceedings of this Commission and the conduct of its employees are governed by the Regulations and all the employees have taken an oath relating to non-disclosure of confidential information.
Finally, I wish to appeal to the media and the public at large to give the Commission space to focus on preparations for the upcoming public hearings, to start on March 2013. Save for exceptional cases, these hearings will be open to the public and the public will have an appropriate opportunity to observe and judge for themselves whether the Commission is true to its mandate or not.
JUDGE W L SERITI
CHAIRPERSON
DATE: 28/01/2013
Statement issued by Judge Willie Seriti, Chairperson of the Arms Procurement Commission, January 28 2013
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
