The official opposition has asked the Public Protector, advocate Lawrence Mushwana, to investigate allegations in the German publication, Der Spiegel, that former state employee and chief of acquisitions for the arms deal Chippy Shaik received a $3-million bribe from arms manufacturer ThyssenKrupp.
In a statement on Monday, Democratic Alliance (DA) MP and member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts Eddie Trent said the arms-deal ghost ”continues to haunt the South African government”.
”The only solution is for the president [Thabo Mbeki] to establish a full judicial commission of inquiry, separate from the executive. President Mbeki’s failure to do so means the DA is forced to use those other institutions, designed to protect the public from abuse by state officials, to get to the bottom of the arms deal.”
”As Mr Shaik was in the employment of the state when he allegedly received the bribe, the Public Protector is able to investigate this matter, as a call this morning, from the DA to the Public Protector, confirmed.
”It is my sincere hope that advocate Mushwana will use those resources available to him to establish the truth about these most recent allegations,” said Trent. ‒ I-Net Bridge