South African Arms Deal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The South African Arms Deal was a US$4,8 billion (R30 billion in 1999 rands) purchase of weaponry by the South African Government finalised in 1999 which has been subject to allegations of corruption.[1][2]
The South African Department of Defence's Strategic Defence Acquisition was to modernise its defence equipment, which included the purchase of corvettes, submarines, light utility helicopters, lead-in fighter trainers and advanced light fighter aircraft.
Contents |
[edit] Requirements
| Description | Original Qty | Illustrative total cost |
|---|---|---|
| Corvettes | 4 | R4 billion |
| Maritime helicopter for corvettes | 5 | R1 billion |
| New submarines to replace Daphne | 4 | R5,5 billion |
| Alouette helicopter replacement | 60 | R2 billion |
| Advanced light fighter | 48 | R6-9 billion |
| MBT replacement of Olifant | 154 | R6 billion |
| Total cost in 1998 Rand | R25-38 billion |
[edit] Final shortlist
| Item / Country | Original Request | Possible Reduced |
|---|---|---|
| Corvette Requirement | 4 | 4 |
| Britain | GEC F3000 | |
| Germany | GFC Meko 200/Meko A200 | |
| France | La Fayette | |
| Spain | Bazan 59B | |
| Maritime Helicopter for Corvettes | 6 | 4 |
| France/Germany | Eurocopter AS 532 | |
| Britain | GKN Super Lynx | |
| Submarine Requirement | 4 | 3 |
| Britain | second-hand Upholders | |
| Germany | GSC TR1400 | |
| France | DCN Scorpene | |
| Italy | S 1600 | |
| Sweden | Kockums T192 | |
| Advanced Light Fighter Aircraft Requirement | 48 | 38 |
| Britain/Sweden | BAE/SAAB JAS 39 Gripen | |
| Light Utility Helicopter Requirement | 60 | 48 |
| Italy | Agusta A109 | |
| France/Germany | Eurocopter EC 635 | |
| Canada | Bell 427 | |
| Main Battle Tank Requirement | 154 | 108 |
| France | Leclerc | |
| Britain | Challenger 2 | |
The South African government announced in November 1998 that it intended to purchase 28 BAE/SAAB JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft from Sweden at a cost of R10.875 billion, ie R388 million (about US$65 million) per plane.
[edit] Review
In a January 2001 report, the Attorney-General of the Western Cape and the SIU's own senior legal advisor recommended further investigation:
[T]here are sufficient grounds in terms of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act No 74 of 1996, for a special investigating unit to conduct an investigation, and, in our opinion, such an investigation is warranted.
—Frank Kahn and Jan Lubbe, "Report (A) from the Director Public Prosecutions Western Cape, Advocate FW Kahn SC, and Advocate J Lubbe SC, to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, PM Maduna", January 18, 2001.[3]
[edit] Bribery allegations
British and German investigators suspect that bribes of over one billion rand were paid to facilitate the deal.[4] Jacob Zuma, Thabo Mbeki, Schabir Shaik and his brother Chippy Shaik and the late Joe Modise have all been mentioned.[4] [5]Andrew Feinstein, an ANC Member of Parliament and the former African National Congress leader of Parliament's public accounts watchdog Scopa, resigned when the party moved to curtail investigations into the arms deal. He wrote a book called After the Party with an insider's view of the process.
Whistleblower Patricia de Lille alleged in Parliament that she had evidence of three payments by warship supplier Thyssen-Krupp on January 29, 1999, each of R500,000, to the ANC, to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and to the Community Development Foundation, a Mozambique charity associated with Mandela's wife, Graça Machel.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Buthelezi, Mangosuthu (November 22nd, 2007). "Mangosuthu Buthelezi's Weekly Newsletter to the Nation". Ifp.org.za. Inkatha Freedom Party. http://www.ifp.org.za/Newsletters/071122wn.htm. Retrieved on 2008-11-13.
- ^ a b Bright hopes betrayed Mail & Guardian
- ^ "Report (A) from the Director Public Prosecutions Western Cape, Advocate FW Kahn SC, and Advocate J Lubbe SC, to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, PM Maduna". January 18, 2001. http://www.info.gov.za/issues/procurement/kahn1.htm.
- ^ a b The ANC's awful choice Prospect Magazine
- ^ Arms deal: Who got R1bn in pay-offs? Mail & Guardian
[edit] External links
- DEFENCE ACQUISITIONS - UNPACKING THE PACKAGE DEALS Jakkie Cilliers, Institute for Security Studies - Occasional Paper No 29 - March 1998
- The Arms Deal Virtual Press Office
- Thales's acquisition plan does little for its stock
- Arms deal: 'Ministers got millions' M & G
- Mbeki killed BAE bribery inquiry M & G
- ANC's arms committee condemned IOL
- How arms-deal 'bribes' were paid M & G
