Ramaphosa steps into arms row

2003-08-17 07:41

Johannesburg - Top African National Congress member Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to meet Scorpions boss Bulelani Ngcuka on Sunday to open discussions on a possible plea bargain in the case of deputy president Jacob Zuma, his financial adviser Schabir Shaik and Mac Maharaj, the former transport minister, the Sunday Times reported.

It said Ramaphosa confirmed the meeting with Ngcuka. He further confirmed that he had been asked to mediate in the ongoing dispute which has rocked the ANC and the government.

"I have spoken to various parties, including ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe, but there is no mediation as yet," said Ramaphosa, the second most popular ANC National Executive Committee member.

Ramaphosa said he would only know to what extent he would be involved in the mediation process after the meeting on Sunday, the newspaper said.

It said Scorpions spokesperson Sipho Ngwema confirmed that a meeting between Ngcuka and Ramaphosa was scheduled for Sunday.

Maharaj resigned from FirstRand this week after the Sunday Times published allegations that he received payments and gifts from Shaik and Nkobi Holdings. Maharaj was a director at FirstRand.

Shaik was grilled for six hours by the Scorpions about two weeks ago on a variety of issues, including investigations into Zuma.

Investigators are attempting to ascertain whether Zuma tried to solicit R500 000 from Thomson CSF/Thales, a company that benefited from SA's multibillion arms deal.

Zuma said he rejected the allegation that he solicited a bribe of R500 000 a year to protect the French company from being probed as part of an ongoing investigation the arms deal.

The Sunday Times reported that it understood that the proposed deal with Maharaj involves around ensuring that no criminal charges were brought against him, but that his wife Zarina could face a number of charges relating to her company.

It said the deal could further involve the charges against Zuma being dropped and Shaik pleading guilty to negotiated charges.

If this succeeded, a plea bargain would then be entered into with Shaik, who said he was not aware of the mediation process.

He said: "I appreciate any assistance that is rendered with regards to resolving this matter.

"But until such time as such propositions are put to my legal team, I am unable to comment on what my position would be."

- SAPA