Programme News
27 February 2014
(News)
Two of the arms deal’s fiercest critics expressed concern on Thursday about the flow of statements that has put limitations on their ability to cross-examine witnesses.
On Thursday, former African National Congress MP Andrew Feinstein and arms deal researcher Hennie van Vuuren said that the questioning of witnesses at the commission so far had been inadequate, and failed to address a number...
27 February 2014
(News)
Two of the arms deal's fiercest critics believe the truth will eventually come out.
Former ANC MP Andrew Feinstein and arms deal researcher Hennie van Vuuren said yesterday that challenges ranging from postponements to resignations would not stop the Arms Procurement Commission from doing its work.
The commission, chaired by Judge Willie Seriti, is investigating allegations of fraud,...
27 February 2014
(News)
In spite of a perceived lack of trust in the arms deal commission, activists Hennie van Vuuren and Andrew Feinstein on Thursday said it must be allowed to complete its mandate, adding that anything less would be a "betrayal of the South African public".
Feinstein and Van Vuuren, both authors who have written extensively about the arms deal, said in spite of the commission's...
25 February 2014
(News)
Tayob Aboobaker, an evidence leader in the commission of inquiry into the arms deal, has retracted a resignation letter he submitted on Friday
The commission's spokesperson William Baloyi confirmed the retraction on Sunday, "He submitted a resignation letter which, after some engagement with him, he retracted. So he's now on board."
Baloyi could not give details of why Aboobaker...
23 February 2014
(News)
By Andrew Feinstein, Paul Holden and Hennie van Vuuren
This past week marked a significant milestone in the seemingly unending saga that is the arms deal.
That a former minister of trade and industry, Alec Erwin, was required to testify at the Seriti arms procurement commission represents an important step in the process of deepening the roots of democratic accountability in South Africa....
21 February 2014
(News)
Home Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said a total of 50 815 duplicates were on record, a huge drop from the initial figure of 598 000 given by the department’s director-general, Mkuseli Apleni, in 2011.
Mamoepa, however, last week said that only 50 815 duplicates were detailed in the department’s system. A total of 28 185 of these IDs were verified before December 31, 2013...
21 February 2014
(News)
Attorney at Lawyers for Human Rights, Osmond Mngomezulu, says counsellors who have established themselves and have years of experience charge high amounts of money to represent their clients in court.
Mngomezulu says clients are told which advocate has won cases and based on that, they decide whether they are going to employ that advocate to represent them. He was speaking on SAfm...
21 February 2014
(News)
The farce perpetrated at this week's hearing of the Seriti commission of inquiry into the R70-billion arms deal showed once and for all that the commission is simply a further waste of state funds, and should be shut down.
Given that the state first closed down the Scorpions' criminal investigation, and then the Hawks' probe, this newspaper never had much expectation that...
19 February 2014
(News)
Close to a year since the Arms Procurement Commission started its investigation into the arms deal, the classification of documents is still delaying the process.
These issues arose in August last year when the commission postponed its public hearings after the defence department requested urgent meetings to discuss the declassification of documents.
But the issue reared its head again today....
19 February 2014
(News)
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...