The office of President Jacob Zuma, on 4 August 2011 received a letter from the Freedom Front Plus in which he is requested to appoint a judicial commission of inquiry into the allegations of bribes being paid by SAAB with the purchase of the Gripen fighter jets. SAAB acknowledged that bribes to the value of R24 million were paid to people in South Africa by their former South African subsidiary, Sanip, which was controlled by BAE Systems.
“The arms deal has over time led to various allegations of bribery and corruption. For the first time bribery has been confirmed by one of the manufacturers. The arms deal does not only harm the image of the SANDF but also the whole of South Africa. The only solution is that for once and for all a final investigation is undertaken into the whole affair. Zuma is on record that he had said that the government is serious about the eradication of corruption and that it would not be tolerated. In the light of this I requested him to appoint a commission of inquiry, preferably a judicial commission, to investigate the matter. Finality about the affair could be obtained through such an investigation and the books could be closed on it,” Mr. Pieter Groenewald (MP), chief spokesperson on Defence for the Freedom Front Plus said in his letter to president Zuma.
Groenewald also said that he is aware that the Directorate for Priority Crimes (Hawks) are currently following up on the allegations but that doubts have already been expressed as to whether the matter would proceed at all.
Mr. Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus MP
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