Yesterday, many people went out to buy the Sunday Times newspaper after seeing the headline which alleges South Africa’s President, Thabo Mbeki, of having received R30-million from a German industrial giant to ensure it won the submarine contract in democratic South Africa’s first arms deal. The report further goes on to suggest that he allegedly gave R28 million to the ANC and R2 million to former deputy president Jacob Zuma. This shocking allegation has surfaced for the first time in a highly secretive investigation by a UK-based specialist risk consultancy. At first thought, some have suggested that there is no truth in this story and that the Sunday Times are just out to make money buy finding a ’story’ which will sell their papers. But then again, this story could easily be true. Who is to say that it is impossible for such a corrupt deal to have taken place?

One now has to wonder; now the current president of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki is being accused of corruption whilst the possible next president of South Africa is going to court to try clear his name from being accused of corruption as well. This does not paint a pretty picture about the country’s leadership.

As I had expected after seeing the report yesterday, the presidency has quickly come out and rejected these claims:
“The presidency has noted today’s [Sunday] front page article of the Sunday Times headlined: ’Mbeki took R30-million and gave some to [ANC President Jacob] Zuma’,” a presidency statement said.

“The report which purports to be a result of a six months’ investigation is but a hotch-potch recycling of allegations that have from time to time been peddled against the government’s strategic defence procurement package.

“This time the Sunday Times outdoes itself by placing a spurious allegation in the public domain, ie President Thabo Mbeki received a bribe of R30 million from MAN Ferrostaal.

“The presidency would like to place it on record that President Thabo Mbeki has never at any stage received any amount of money from MAN Ferrostaal.

“The Sunday Times or anyone who has evidence that the President or anyone else received bribe(s) in the procurement process should, as we have emphasised before, approach the law enforcement agencies,” the presidency said.

The opposition parties have also been quick to pounce onto this allegation as one would expect. With the DA saying that Mr. Mbeki should appoint a commission of inquiry into the renewed allegations and explain his alleged involvement. It seems like there could be a lot more about this arms deal that we may never get to know about. Watch this space as this story continues to unravel.

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