Oil deal: DA invokes law

2003-06-03 15:10

Cape Town - The official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has invoked the Promotion of Access to Information Act to obtain state documentation on an alleged oil deal involving South Africa and Nigeria.

In a statement reflecting a motion to be put to the National Assembly on Tuesday, minerals spokesperson Ian Davidson said his party had requested that President Thabo Mbeki release all documents and correspondence relating to the alleged oil deal reported in the Mail & Guardian on May 30.

This request carried a deadline of 14:00 on Tuesday.

Davidson said these documents included correspondence between the executive (the South African cabinet), the Nigerian government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

"As I speak, there has been no positive response to this request and therefore the DA is now invoking the Act in order to obtain the information."

"Release of these documents is important as it would appear that a lucrative oil contract intended for all the people of South Africa, secured with the aid of the president, has benefited only a select few, being a number of figures linked to the inner sanctum of the ANC, including the ANC's own fundraising trust."

"If what is alleged is correct, then this is an abuse of the president's Office and a potential fraud on the South African and Nigerian public," said Davidson.

- I-Net Bridge (Business)