Arms deal probe investigator quits
2013-01-17 09:46
Johannesburg - The integrity of the Seriti commission
probing the arms deal has been questioned in a resignation letter penned by one
of the commission's senior investigators, according to a report on Thursday.
Norman Moabi, a lawyer and former acting judge from
Pretoria, alleges in his letter, which was leaked to Beeld newspaper, that the
commission is not being transparent and is concealing an alternative or
"second agenda".
Moabi says in the letter, addressed to judge Willie Seriti,
that he is resigning because of interference and because he has lost faith in
the commission's work.
"I joined the commission to serve with integrity,
dignity and dedication to truth. I cannot, in all conscience, pretend to be
blind to what is actually going on at the commission."
'Second agenda'
According to Moabi, Seriti rules the commission with an iron
fist and facts are manipulated or withheld from commissioners.
Contributions from commissioners who do not pursue the
"second agenda" are frequently ignored.
Beeld contacted Moabi, but he declined to comment.
Spokesperson for the Seriti commission, William Baloyi said
the commission would fulfil its mandate, as requested by President Jacob Zuma.
"Any other agenda referred to by Mr Moabi is a
delusion."
Hearings were expected to start in March.
In October 2011 Zuma announced that Supreme Court of Appeal
Judge Seriti would chair the three-man commission of inquiry, flanked by judges Hendrick Musi and Francis Legodi.
Corruption allegations
The multi-billion rand deal has dogged South Africa's
politics since it was signed in 1999, after then Pan Africanist Congress MP
Patricia de Lille raised allegations of corruption in Parliament.
Zuma himself was once charged with corruption after his
financial adviser Schabir Shaik, who had a tender to supply part of the
requirements, was found to have facilitated a bribe for him from a French arms
company.
The charges against Zuma were later dropped.
- SAPA
