A resolution to open up the arms deal to further discussion was shot down by the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) on Wednesday.
Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Eddie Trent, who brought the proposal, finally withdrew it and agreed to Scopa chairperson Themba Godi’s suggestion that the committee merely look into what progress has been made in implementing Scopa’s recommendations to Parliament, contained in a November 2000 report.
African National Congress (ANC) MP Vincent Smith called Trent’s proposal ”rubbish”.
Said Godi: ”As Scopa, we are going to look at the recommendations we have made and check what progress has been made in implementing them.”
Trent, in his initial resolution, stressed that while he did not intend producing new evidence or conclusive proof of wrongdoing, Scopa’s complete responsibility for investigating the arms deal ”has yet to be fulfilled”.
This followed allegations made by former Scopa member Andrew Feinstein in his recently published book, After the Party.
In the book, former ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni is quoted as saying on the arms-deal investigation: ”The ANC, from the president downwards, will now exercise political control over Scopa.”
An ANC national executive committee (NEC) member also allegedly told Feinstein that the party funded its 1999 election with money from companies that won arms-deal tenders.
The decision by the ANC’s NEC to establish an ad-hoc committee to probe the arms deal was another reason given for the DA resolution.
”It is unthinkable that Parliament, and therefore Scopa, should abdicate its responsibility by doing nothing whilst the governing party gathers information itself and its officials that will not be subjected to public scrutiny,” Trent wrote in his resolution.
Smith, referring to the ANC’s ad-hoc committee, said it was not Scopa’s place to discuss ”initiatives of political parties”.
”I think this type of thing is what is going to poison this committee.”
MP Ron Mofokeng said Feinstein’s evidence was hearsay and any information he had on the arms deal he should have made available while still a Scopa member. — Sapa