Two opposition parties called on Sunday for a judicial commission of inquiry into allegations by the United Nations that South African companies were involved in Iraq’s oil-for-food corruption scandal.
The leader of the Democratic Alliance, Tony Leon, said in a statement that South Africans had to learn the truth about the scandal.
”The United Nations report makes the most serious allegations of dishonesty and illegal conduct on the part of South African companies,” he said.
”We… strongly urge President Mbeki to come clean with South Africa about the ANC’s involvement in the Oilgate and Oil for food scandals.”
Leon said Mbeki should appoint a judicial commission of inquiry with powers of search and subpoena in order to restore the country’s good name and reputation, ”and also to lay the basis for prosecuting any guilty parties”.
The Freedom Front Plus said in a statement it would write to Mbeki and Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, asking for the appointment of a commission.
”All the negotiations and transactions of the Imvume company and Mr Sandi Majali’s part therein, must be investigated by an independent commission,” FF+ leader Pieter Mulder said at the party’s Free State congress in Bloemfontein.
He said the government had criticised the United States when President George Bush decided to invade Iraq against the decisions of the UN. If the country now decided to ignore UN decisions, it would be a case of double standards.
An independent team of investigators appointed by the UN investigated irregularities in the Iraqi food-for-oil programme during the regime of Saddam Hussein.
Businessman Sandi Majali’s name and the name of one of his companies, Imvume, were prominently mentioned in the UN report on the matter.
Majali denied paying any kickbacks to the Iraqi government in exchange for oil.
On Friday the Department of Foreign Affiars said the government had seen the United Nations report.
”However, we still have to study the full text of the report before we can give a comprehensive response,” said Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa.
He could not say when this would be completed. – Sapa