Programme News
29 May 2014
(News)
While the commission probing fraud and corruption in the arms deal prepares to hear evidence from former deputy defence minister Ronnie Kasrils on Monday, lawyers for two critics of the arms deal have complained of unfair treatment.
Lawyers for Human Rights, representing former ANC MP Andrew Feinstein and researcher Paul Holden at the Arms Procurement Commission, complained on Tuesday that...
29 May 2014
(News)
Lawyers for Human Rights were prevented from cross-examining a witness at the Seriti Commission into the arms deal, they said on Wednesday.
"The LHR was hindered this week from effectively cross-examining Rear Admiral Jonathan Kamermann on his technical knowledge of the purchase of corvettes forming part of arms deal, and allegations of corruption against him," the lawyers said...
28 May 2014
(Press release)
Lawyers for Human Rights – representing Andrew Feinstein, Hennie van Vuuren and Paul Holden – have effectively been barred again from participating at the Arms Procurement Commission.
Barred from cross-examination
LHR was hindered this week from effectively cross-examining Rear Admiral Jonathan Kamermann on his technical knowledge of the purchase of Corvettes forming part of the...
28 May 2014
(News)
Rear Admiral Jonathan Kamerman has denied that Shamin “Chippy” Shaik, had undue influence in the frigate selection process and the combat system they used.
Kamerman is the former director of South Africa’s Project Sitron, and Shaik was the arms deal’s former acquisition chief.
This was one of several allegations and insinuations of irregularities in the contracting phase...
28 May 2014
(News)
Rear Admiral Jonathan Kamerman, the former director of South Africa’s Project Sitron, which acquired four light frigates for the navy in 1999, on Tuesday rejected allegations of irregularities in the contracting phase of the project.
On Monday, R-Adm Kamerman explained to the Arms Procurement Commission the processes, events and decisions during Project Sitron’s acquisition of...
23 May 2014
(News)
If all goes according to plan – and this is murky territory because it depends on whose plan we’re talking about – the Arms Procurement Commission, appointed by President Jacob Zuma and headed by Judge Willie Seriti, appears to be finally gearing up for the main act when the big guns - the main players who signed off on the deal - including former Deputy Minister of Defence,...
19 May 2014
(News)
The Seriti Commission of Inquiry into the 1999 arms deal was adjourned on Friday, a spokesman said.
The commission would resume on Monday when Admiral Jonathan Kamerman would start his testimony, spokesman William Baloyi said.
Former secretary for defence Pierre Steyn completed his testimony on Friday.
Other witnesses expected to testify in June included former president Thabo Mbeki, former...
16 May 2014
(News)
Lieutenant-General Pierre Steyn resigned as secretary for defence before the 1999 arms deal was signed because he thought it was a dodgy deal.
Steyn pointed a finger at the then minister of defence, the late Joe Modise, and the then department of defence’s chief of acquisition, Chippy Shaik, as key people involved in manipulating the Strategic Defence Procurement Package (SDPP)....
15 May 2014
(News)
The 1999 arms deal procurement was irregular and unjustified, the cabinet flouted the law and there was collusion between some top people.
This is according to former secretary for defence Lieutenant-General Pierre Steyn, who started giving evidence on Wednesday morning before the Arms Procurement Commission’s public hearings in Pretoria.
The commission is investigating the 1999 arms...
29 April 2014
(News)
The Arms Procurement Commission has confirmed former president Thabo Mbeki and other senior decision makers in the multi-billion rand arms deal will now appear before Judge Willie Seriti’s inquiry in the first week of June.
Mbeki is expected to testify on 5 June and will be preceded by other senior politicians who served in his cabinet at the time, including Trevor Manuel, Mosiuoa Lekota...