Arms commission postponed

The Seriti Commission of Inquiry into the 1999 arms deal has been postponed to Wednesday because chairman Judge Willie Seriti is ill.

 

"The chairperson of the commission, Judge Seriti, has fallen ill over the weekend and has been booked off to recuperate until Wednesday," spokesman William Baloyi said in a statement on Sunday.

 

He said the commission would resume on Wednesday. President Jacob Zuma appointed the commission in 2011 to investigate alleged corruption in the multi-billion rand arms deal.

 

The government acquired, among other things, 26 Gripen fighter aircraft and 24 Hawk lead-in fighter trainer aircraft for the SA Air Force as part of the arms deal.

 

The defence and military veterans' department, arms procurement parastatal Armscor, and the National Treasury are expected to make presentations to the commission on the rationale behind the armaments acquisition.

 

- Sapa