Government is to hold a briefing on the arms deal next week to answer questions regarding government’s alleged lack of cooperation with the German probe into aspects of the procurement.
The briefing will be held on Wednesday, according to Government spokesperson Themba Maseko who was briefing reporters on the outcome of the latest ordinary Cabinet meeting.
He said the meeting had noted the recent decision of prosecutors in Germany not to proceed with investigations of German companies for their alleged involvement in irregularities regarding the arms deal.
Therefore government had decided to hold the briefing next week so that reporters can present a wide range of questions to government on the strategic defence procurement package to dispel speculation on the subject.
There has been speculation in the media on possible reasons for German prosecutors dropping the probe.
Maseko rejected the notion that it was due to lack of cooperation on behalf of South African officials.
“Cabinet is concerned about speculation in some media which continues to insinuate that the decision of the German prosecutors was due to non-cooperation by the South African authorities.
“We reject this insinuation completely. A special media briefing will be held soon to present proof that at no stage did the South African government refuse to cooperate with the Germans.”
He said there was concern about the allegations because they were not based on fact.
German prosecutors some months ago announced that that they would be probing aspects of the arms deal in which German companies participated strongly, not least in manufacturing of the three new submarines and four frigates.
The probe in turn opened the door to accusations of corrupt practices.
During this probe, at no stage did the South African government refuse to cooperate, reiterated Maseko.
“German prosecutors themselves have indicated that it is not true that the decision [to drop the probe] was based on lack of cooperation on the part of government”.
The upcoming briefing, which will deal with years of speculation and a variety of accusations around the arms deal in which billions of Rands were spent, will seek to put the peoples' minds at ease.
Earlier this month, the Minister in the Presidency, Essop Pahad refuted any corruption in the arms deal, at least at the executive level of government.
He defended the arms purchases, saying that as far as he knew, all countries in the world except for perhaps Costa Rica engaged in arms purchases to maintain standing defence forces.
However, he said he accepted that a declared pacifist would not likely be in favour of such procurement. - BuaNews
The briefing will be held on Wednesday, according to Government spokesperson Themba Maseko who was briefing reporters on the outcome of the latest ordinary Cabinet meeting.
He said the meeting had noted the recent decision of prosecutors in Germany not to proceed with investigations of German companies for their alleged involvement in irregularities regarding the arms deal.
Therefore government had decided to hold the briefing next week so that reporters can present a wide range of questions to government on the strategic defence procurement package to dispel speculation on the subject.
There has been speculation in the media on possible reasons for German prosecutors dropping the probe.
Maseko rejected the notion that it was due to lack of cooperation on behalf of South African officials.
“Cabinet is concerned about speculation in some media which continues to insinuate that the decision of the German prosecutors was due to non-cooperation by the South African authorities.
“We reject this insinuation completely. A special media briefing will be held soon to present proof that at no stage did the South African government refuse to cooperate with the Germans.”
He said there was concern about the allegations because they were not based on fact.
German prosecutors some months ago announced that that they would be probing aspects of the arms deal in which German companies participated strongly, not least in manufacturing of the three new submarines and four frigates.
The probe in turn opened the door to accusations of corrupt practices.
During this probe, at no stage did the South African government refuse to cooperate, reiterated Maseko.
“German prosecutors themselves have indicated that it is not true that the decision [to drop the probe] was based on lack of cooperation on the part of government”.
The upcoming briefing, which will deal with years of speculation and a variety of accusations around the arms deal in which billions of Rands were spent, will seek to put the peoples' minds at ease.
Earlier this month, the Minister in the Presidency, Essop Pahad refuted any corruption in the arms deal, at least at the executive level of government.
He defended the arms purchases, saying that as far as he knew, all countries in the world except for perhaps Costa Rica engaged in arms purchases to maintain standing defence forces.
However, he said he accepted that a declared pacifist would not likely be in favour of such procurement. - BuaNews
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