Pretoria - Judge Willie Seriti hopes to conclude his final report on the 1999 multi-billion-rand arms deal “much sooner” than the year-end deadline, he said in Pretoria on Monday.
“In the coming few days, Commissioner (Thekiso) Musi and I will begin the solitary and arduous task of writing our final report. We have until December 31, 2015 to finalise it and submit it to the president,” Seriti said on the final day of public hearings of the arms deal inquiry.
“We will however endeavour to submit it much sooner than stipulated in the terms of reference.”
He said the grave allegations that neccessited the establishment of his inquiry had cast a cloud over the government.
“This inquiry was launched as a consequence of incessant allegations of venality relating to the SDPPs (strategic defence procurement package).
“These accusations, which cast doubt on the wisdom of the first democratically elected government of South Africa, impugn the integrity of members of the executive, government officials, defence companies that won the bids, their employees and agent or consultants, have been in the public domain for quite some time now,” said Seriti.
He said the allegations of graft have also been detailed in several books and news articles. Seriti said his inquiry had solicited information from all concerned parties.
“The responses were disappointingly scant. We received a meagre eight submissions,” said Seriti.
He said significant information was however supplied by government organs including members of cabinet, Parliament, departments and the National Prosecuting Authority.
Widespread allegations of mass corruption in South Africa’s arms purchase also sparked investigations in other countries, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany and France.
Seriti said his inquiry has made overseas trips and consulted with prosecutors, auditors and investigators who were involved in related probes in their respective jurisdictions.
“The outcome of our interactions with all these entities and people will form the subject of the commission’s final report and cannot be discussed here,” he said.
The inquiry has heard testimony from about 56 witnesses. Former president Thabo Mbeki, former finance minister Trevor Manuel, former defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota, chief of the SA National Defence Force General Solly Shoke and former trade and industry minister Alec Erwin have testified before it.
Evidence was also given by vocal arms deal critics including Cape Town Mayor Patricia De Lille, Terry Crawford-Browne, former Scopa chairman Gavin Woods, losing bidder Dr Richard Young, former Democratic Alliance MP Raenette Taljaard and current DA MP David Maynier. Some who were called as witnesses refused to testify.
Seriti expressed gratitude to the Tshwane municipality for providing office space where the inquiry have held public hearings since August 2013.
President Jacob Zuma appointed the commission of inquiry in 2011 to investigate alleged corruption in the multi-billion-rand deal.
Government acquired, among other hardware, 26 Gripen fighter aircraft, 24 Hawk lead-in fighter trainer aircraft for the air force, frigates and submarines for the navy.
ANA