Arms probe commission resumes

The inquiry into the arms deal is expected to resume in Pretoria today.

 

The Seriti Commission of Inquiry, chaired by Justice Willie Seriti with Justice Thekiso Musi as a member, was postponed by a fortnight after lawyers for the defence department said time was needed to decide how to proceed with the declassification of documents relevant to the inquiry.

 

On August 5, Seriti said he received a draft of an urgent court application against the commission on August 4.

 

One of the concerns raised was whether the commission could continue with only two commissioners, following the announcement of Justice Francis Legodi's resignation on August 1.

 

The applicant, the defence department, believed the commission could not proceed with just two commissioners. Seriti said at the time that this was a decision President Jacob Zuma needed to make.

 

On August 6, the presidency said the inquiry would continue as a two-person commission while Zuma considered whether to appoint a third member.

 

The commission is investigating alleged corruption in the 1999 multi-billion rand arms deal. 

 

-Sapa