DA submits questions on Mbeki's arms deal involvement

CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance submitted Parliamentary questions to President Thabo Mbeki on Monday, asking him to clear the air around his alleged involvement in the arms deal.

DA Spokesman for Public Accounts Eddie Trent said the questions were meant to -- amongst other things -- give Mbeki an opportunity to explain whether any investigative authority had asked him for information surrounding his involvement in the arms deal.

“It is reliably understood that he has been approached in this regard,” Trent said.

Mbeki should also indicate whether he would set up a commission of inquiry to investigate allegations around the arms deal.

“The second questions probes whether, in the face of mounting evidence of wrongdoing associated with the arms deal, as well as the ongoing German and British criminal investigations into alleged corruption, the President will now appoint a judicial commission of inquiry to probe evidence of wrongdoing,” he said.

The President should also respond to claims that during his tenure as deputy president of the country, he had met representatives of French arms company Thomson-CSF.

This was in light of revelations earlier this year by former ambassador to France, Barbara Masekela, that she had arranged a meeting between Mbeki and Thomson-CSF in Paris in December 1998.

“The President has consistently and conveniently argued that he cannot recall such a meeting; in light of the revelation by Masekela as well as ongoing claims that he had in fact met with Thomson representatives at least two or three times before, there is no way that he can continue to credibly maintain his silence on this issue,” Trent said.

The DA questions follows a Sunday Times report suggesting that business magnate and senior ANC leader Tokyo Sexwale made an “impassioned plea” at a meeting of the party’s national executive committee at the weekend for Mbeki “to take the ANC into his confidence” .

- Sapa