UNITED DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT
MEDIA RELEASE
POSTPONEMENT
OF PUBLIC HEARINGS INTO
ARMS DEAL
STATEMENT
ISSUED BY DR GERHARD KOORNHOF, MP
UDM SPOKESPERSON FOR PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
The
UDM is very disappointed that nothing substantial on the arms deal investigation
was announced yesterday. There were no announcements of procedures for public
hearings, or any mention of the terms of reference of the investigation team,
and no witnesses were called to testify.
It was a false start to the investigation into the arms procurement process, in
the sense that within hours of the public hearing starting, it was postponed for
two weeks.
Yesterday's hearings gave an impression of a total disorganisation and
disorientation among the investigators, led by the Public Protector, Mr Baqwa,
regarding the direction of the so-called public hearings. If this continues we
can only conclude that this could be a long drawn-out process, without
contributing to the investigation.
Cape
Town
29 May 2001