Human Rights lawyers demands access to top secret Arms contracts

Lawyers for Human Rights are demanding access to top secret contracts government signed with arms suppliers as part of the 1999 multi-billion rand deal.

Lawyers representing arms deal critics turned up the heat at the commission, probing the package on Tuesday.

Former Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin wrapped up his testimony, but may be re-called for cross-examination.

On Tuesday, when everyone was expecting it to delve deeper, a legal wrangle over whether contracts with arms suppliers should be made public took palce.

Lawyers for Human Rights, Advocate Marie-Anne de Vos, says, “It's precisely because we want to see the terms that we are asking for the contracts. We are submitting that the contracts are not only relevant for the purposes of this witness but for many others still to come."

State Attorney, Isaac Chowe says, "All parties need to give their consent before these documents can be released, so without consent of other parties to the agreement we as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) cannot agree that those contracts be released."

Earlier, Erwin the first former cabinet minister to appear before the Commission was excused.

Erwin's lawyer Advocate Marumo Moerane S.C. says, “I believe the affordability report which was one of the reasons we couldn't proceed with cross examination yesterday [Monday] is or has been declassified. I think questions can be directed at Erwin, he's prepared to answer questions ...but with regards to the contracts themselves, I don't see how that has a bearing on his cross examination."

On Monday, the commission will recall a former Armscor official, Fritz Nortje. This is in preparation for his possible cross-examination by Cape Town businessman, Richard Young.