/ 25 June 2001

SANDF CHIEF TOOK CAR IN ARMS DEAL

THE Sunday Times reports today that South African National Defence Force chief has admitted that he received a R500_000 Mercedes Benz at a massive discount from the same company that allegedly supplied a similar vehicle to ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni, while negotiations over the country’s R43-billion arms deal were underway. General Siphiwe Nyanda received his silver S320 from EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company soon after it was ordered by that company as a “staff car”. According to the Sunday Times, former Armscor chief executive Llew Swan and Department of Trade and Industry official Vanan Pillay both also received huge discounts on similar cars.