DA rejects defence dept's proposal
2011-03-02 18:04
Cape Town - The Democratic Alliance (DA) has rejected a proposed access-for-confidentiality deal from the defence department for documents relating to the acquisition of the Airbus A400M transport aircraft.
"This means that the documents would be made available in return for an agreement not to disclose the contents of the documents to the public," DA's defence spokesperson David Maynier said in a statement on Wednesday.
He said the proposed deal followed a year-long "struggle" with the department to respond to an application for access to the documents in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act.
He said the secretary of defence Mpumi Mpofu told him, in a letter dated February 15 2011, that there were "specific reservations" about releasing documents related to the acquisition of the Airbus A400M.
The letter stated that disclosure could possibly compromise negotiations and damage relations with Airbus, damage financial and economic interests of certain public entities and South Africa, and damage the defence, security and international relations of South Africa.
Maynier said the defence department proposed that the relevant documents be made available and accessed through the Joint Standing Committee on Defence.
But, access to the documents would be subject to "standing parliamentary rules on privilege and confidentiality".
"I have, therefore, rejected the proposed access-for-confidentiality deal and requested that my application for access to the documents, in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, now be processed as a matter of urgency by the defence department.
"The department will, in my view, be compelled to release a large number of documents on the acquisition of the Airbus A400M, which may be embarrassing to the government, but will not in any way damage the defence, security and international relations of South Africa."
He said the documents would "hopefully" shed light on the R47bn deal to acquire the Airbus A400M transport aircraft.
"The Airbus A400M deal raises some serious questions because there was no tender for the procurement of aircraft; and the department of defence reportedly recommended against the acquisition of the Airbus A400M," Maynier said.
- SAPA
