DA submits Access to Information Applications on Arms Deal Investigations

On Friday, the Democratic Alliance (DA) submitted two applications in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (2000) to access all documents pertaining to the mutual legal assistance agreements (MLAs) between South Africa and Great Britain and Germany. The MLAs set out the details of South Africa's cooperation with Britain and Germany in respect of their investigations into allegations of corruption connected with the arms deal.

We know that South Africa has been approached by both Germany and Britain to assist with their investigations into the corruption that is alleged to have taken placed during the awarding of tenders for the Strategic Defence Procurement Package.

By accessing this documentation, we will be able to hold government to account in terms of whether or not it is assisting the German and British investigations. It is essential that our government cooperates fully with the investigations and ensures that any South Africans who benefited unlawfully from the billions of rands spent on the arms deal are publicly held to account.

Statement issued by Eddie Trent MP, Democratic Alliance spokesperson on the arms deal, June 16 2008