Pik: I'll tell all
2005-12-10 12:50
Jan-Jan Joubert and Adriaan Basson
Johannesburg - Former foreign affairs minister Pik Botha has welcomed any investigation into alleged corruption during the apartheid era.
And, he says, he's more than willing to be investigated himself.
Botha was responding to reports of large-scale corruption allegedly committed between 1976 and 1994 under the apartheid government.
Calls have been made for a kind of Truth and Reconciliation Commission for corruption.
Botha says it is good for these claims to be aired, so that those allegedly involved, can respond.
His name is mentioned with regard to the issuing of M-Net's initial licence and alleged financial irregularities in foreign affairs while he was the responsible minister.
Botha says he would welcome a report into the assets of former NP cabinet ministers, including himself.
With regard to attempts to circumvent sanctions against South Africa, Botha said he was proud of what had been achieved.
"In the book that I'm writing at present, I will not only reveal what happened.
"I will give the officials involved the necessary credit for what they did to avoid serious consequences
to the South African economy."
He said clandestine operation were part of the mandate of foreign affairs.
"However, all these actions were subject to inspection by the auditor-general.
"Proof had to be provided of all payments and no irregularities were ever found.
"The director-general (previously the secretary), was the responsible financial official and had to approve and sign for every single payment.
"It was never in the hands of one person only to make a decision on any payment.
"All the officials are still alive and will be able to confirm this.
"From time to time we also informed the opposition in parliament how money was spent overseas to avoid international sanctions.
"When the Kahn commission was appointed by former president (FW) De Klerk to investigate secret expenditure, we had to disclose everything.
"No negative finding was made and some projects were continued because of strategic interests," Botha said.
"It was of course necessary to establish front organisations during the sanction era.
"It was part of our job to fight sanctions.
"In one year we lost exports to the USA to the value of a million rand, but we recouped this in the following year via exports to Communist Eastern Bloc countries and the Far East.