Chairperson, the ANC supports the decision taken by the Standing Committee on Pubic Accounts and unanimously supported by all parties, including the DA, at its meeting on 29 January 2008 that, "The reopening of the arms deal will only be considered if new evidence was brought to light." The ANC notes that the material now being peddled by the DA to the media is not new evidence, but merely one of several Joint Investigation Task Team drafts compiled for discussion purposes prior to the final JITT report on this matter.
The ANC condemns the DA for, once again, sneaking documents to the media before the relevant committee, in this case Scopa, has had time to deliberate on them. The ANC reiterates the findings in the 15th report of Scopa, dated 11 December 2001, based on the final Joint Investigation Task Team report and passed as a resolution of this House on 19 September 2002 that, "No evidence was found of any improper or unlawful conduct by the government."
The ANC calls on any person who believes that they have new evidence on this matter to report this to the appropriate authority. Thank you. [Applause.]