Arms deal hearings begin 28 May

Public hearings into the R43-billion arms procurement deal start in the Pretoria High Court today.

The hearings follow after speculation around the integrity of the Strategic Defence Procurement Package approved by the South African government in December 1999 and questions raised by the Auditor-General (AG) and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA).

The hearings will be lead by a panel chaired by the Public Protector, Mr Selby Baqwa. The two other panel members will be representatives from the Offices of the Auditor-General and the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

- Background information