NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

QUESTION FOR ORAL REPLY
QUESTION 185 (N0 3766E)

Mr D J Maynier (DA) to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans:

(1) Whether she has been informed that Mr Tony Yengeni, who has been appointed to the South African Defence Review Committee,   has been convicted of a criminal offence relating to arms acquisition and has been convicted of a second offence for illegally holding company directorships; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, why was the person appointed;

(2) Whether the person disclosed this information to her prior to such appointment; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, why was the person appointed;

(3) Whether she intends to reconsider her appointment of the person to the South African Defence Review Committee; if  not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?      NO3766E

RESPONSE

The facts about Mr Yengeni:

• Mr Yengeni was not convicted for any offence relating to any arms acquisition or the so-called "Arms Deal", as the Honourable Member Maynier suggests.
• Mr Yengeni was convicted for not disclosing certain information to Parliament. I understand that in recent times he was found  to have held directorship(s) in companies. This, I am informed is not in line with the Companies Act.
• We have not found any law that disqualifies him from serving his country as he does now in the Defence Review Committee.
• The Defence Review is an Ad Hoc Committee appointed in terms of the Defence Act to advise the Minister.
• The Committee is not a company so the Companies Act does not apply in his case.
• I appointed him to serve on the Review Committee because of his experience in defence matters.

Mr Yengeni was convicted and he paid his due by serving a prison sentence and was released from custody.

It is our view that Mr Yengeni be allowed to carry on with his life and be able to serve his country in any capacity that the country needs him.

2. Yes, Mr Yengeni disclosed this information. In any case, these matters were in the public domain and the Ministry was thus aware of this fact.

3. Not.

Issued by Parliament, November 3 2011

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