Cape Town, | Tuesday
THE chairman of South Africa’s parliamentary watchdog resigned on Monday, blasting an investigation into the country’s controversial arms procurement programme.
Gavin Woods (51) who chaired the public accounts committee, said his resignation was sparked by a report by three statutory agencies, which cleared the government of corruption in the deal that will see South Africa buy arms from several European manufacturers.
In a 17-page appraisal, Woods said the joint committee failed to investigate and report various crucial aspects of the deal, including a substantial rise in the cost of warships, fighter jets and helicopters.
The price tag on South Africa’s arms deal rose from an estimated R30,3-billion ($289-million at current rates) in 1998 to an estimated R43-billion ($5,5-billion), sparking criticism that the government had misled the South African public.
The investigation discarded 10 of the 14 points Woods’ committee wanted probed concerning industrial participation programme spin-offs or the manufacturing contracts companies gave to the South African government in return for buying their products.
”And none of the four it looked at were satisfactorily addressed,” the Sapa news agency quoted him as saying.
”This is most regrettable coming from those who should be promoting public accountability and not dismissing it,” he said.
Woods said it would also have been appropriate to question whether the South African cabinet and its sub-committee on the arms deal had acted responsibly and competently.
”Given the evidence produced in the detail of the report (but omitted from its findings)… the Cabinet in particular did not act with sufficient responsibility when applying their minds …when making their decisions,” Woods said.
”Thus, the public has been let down by the way in which this single biggest expenditure of the South African government was decided upon.”
Under the deal, South Africa will buy four warships and three submarines from Germany’s Frigate, nine fighter jets from Gripen of Sweden, 12 trainer Hawk jets from SAAB-British Aerospace and 30 light helicopters from the Italian-based Augusta.
Meanwhile, Scopa may see the resignation of at least another opposition MP.
Among those expected to leave is the Democratic Alliance’s Raenette Taljaard, who Woods said along with himself, bore the brunt of ANC hostility on the committee.
It is understood that Taljaard wants to return to the public enterprises committee, while her colleagues Mark Louw and Rudi Heine may be redeployed to Scopa.
Woods says he would like to remain as an ordinary committee member, but that the decision is ultimately his party’s.
UDM deputy president Gerhard Koornhof says the committee is at a crossroads.
”We will either fall flat within two weeks or we will revive.”
Koornhof said he did not believe it was impossible to resuscitate the committee, but that trust had to be re-established between its members.
”It is possible to reconcile the committee, but probably at a price. A number of members will have to leave.”
Koornhof said political parties would have to consider who they wanted on the committee.
”All political parties will have to take stock.”
Koornhof said he would quit if the committee could not be salvaged.
”But if it can (be revived), then count me in. I’ll go for it,” he said.
The ANC on Monday recommitted itself to giving the committee chairmanship to an opposition party MP.
Speculation is rife that instead of giving the post again to the IFP, the ANC will opt to reward its new ally, the NNP, in line with their co-operation pact.
NNP representative Francois Beukman said the issue had not been discussed between the two parties and rejected speculation that former Local Government MEC Pierre Uys, who serves as an alternate member for the NNP, would succeed Woods.
However, a decision on who would succeed Woods would be made by ANC Chief Whip Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and other party structures, party spokesman Vincent Smith said.
ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni was last year charged with corruption, fraud and perjury for allegedly accepting a luxury vehicle from European Aeronautic Defence and Space (Eads) corporation.
He was charged with fraud and corruption for allegedly having accepted a luxury car from one of the contractors, European Aeronautics and Defence Company (Eads).
Eads in July admitted to having ”assisted” some 30 South African VIPs, including the chief of the army Siphiwe Nyanda, to acquire luxury vehicles.
Critics of the arms deal say the money would be far better spent on improving living conditions for South Africa’s poor majority than on weapons. – AFP