The arms deal corruption issue

[Dave S]

Variation on the SA theme:
I believe that the magnitude of the corruption involved in the arms deal & many, if not most, subsequent deals is so big that it should in fact bring any normally-appointed, democratic government to its knees.

What, we have a democratically appointed Gobblemunt??? Why didn't someone tell me.

Seriously, it would bring any democratic gov. to it's knees, but we all have to remember, this is Africa and most of the voters/population only have access to gov. controlled media, so at elections time where are they gonna get the biggest influence for their votes...?

[Dave A]

Corruption around the arms deal raises its ugly head yet again. Breaking news is Saab has admitted it paid R24 million.

In a disclosure likely to re-ignite controversy about the long-running arms-deal scandal, Swedish multinational Saab has disclosed that R24-million paid to defence consultant Fana Hlongwane was hidden from Saab by its partner in the deal, BAE Systems.

Hlongwane, an adviser to Defence Minister Joe Modise at the time the deals were negotiated, has received so-called "commission" payments of more than R200-million from entities controlled by BAE.

[Dave A]

Zapiro keeping things in perspective...



http://mg.co.za/zapiro/

[Dave A]

I didn't get a chance to even skim the headlines last week.

My goodness - looks like M&G has been busy!

[Justloadit]

Maybe the fight for justice is not over, and with the recent delay in the gagging of the media, the perpetrators may see their day in court, and hopefully the South African voter will realise that they have merely been puppets in a well oiled machine to keep them poor.

[Butch Hannan]

Maybe sanity will prevail and Zuma will get his day in court as he previously so desired. Just wishful thinking again.

[Dave A]

So there's been an announcement from the Presidency that there will be a commission of inquiry into the arms deal corruption issue.

I wonder if our President will be called to testify.

[Justloadit]

All smoke and mirrors - by doing this he can control the proceedings via the sidelines and shut everyone up.

[wynn]

AAHA! Full disclosure and pay the money back for immunity, I suppose the pres can afford that now, so he will be the first to spill the beans.

Will he leave TM and all the others dangling in the breeze?

[Dave A]

About the best piece I've read on the possible why's is this:

Speculation abounds about the reasons for the unexpected announcement.

Presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj said it was time for the matter to be brought to an end. “The president decided the fastest and cleanest way to conclude the matter is to appoint a commission of inquiry.”

But former ANC MP Andrew Feinstein, who did an exposé on some aspects of the arms deal in his book, After the Party, believes otherwise.

“It is my opinion that there are two reasons for Zuma’s decision. Number one is that Julius Malema has threatened he will expose arms deal skeletons if the ANC continues with his disciplinary hearing. Now Zuma can neutralise the threat by controlling the process.”

The second reason could be the Constitutional Court challenge, in which Terry Crawford-Browne wanted to force the president to appoint a commission of inquiry.

Crawford-Browne’s legal advisor, Paul Hoffman, said they believed the announcement was made to obstruct this case.

“Government had to hand in their legal documents (on Thursday) in which they opposed our claims. I believe they realised their argument was not watertight so they issued a statement with no particulars.”
from New24s.com here

JZ has already shown he has excellent instincts on what cards to play when. And he's got to be sick and tired of all the jibes and being held to ransom over the issue.

I wouldn't bet against him playing open cards this time around while he has the power to put an amnesty on the table.