Speaker, Cope welcomes with optimism the decision by Britain's auditing watchdog to name those South Africans who took bribes of, reportedly, R1 billion in the arms deal. Today many innocent South Africans walk around with the stigma of association with the Defence acquisition our country entered into. Suspicions that they are perhaps implicated persist. [Interjections.]
Order! Hon members.
It is right and proper that the transgressors should be named and shamed, and then tried and jailed. Their assets and the assets of their colluding spouses, where warranted, should thereafter be seized. The Accountancy and Actuarial Discipline Board of the UK is scrutinising KPMG's confidential records on BAE. It is anticipated that its audit will reveal financial evidence that BAE indeed paid out huge bribes to supply Hawk trainer aircraft and Gripen fighter jets to South Africa for R2,1 billion.
Already a completed investigation in the UK and Liechtenstein points to alleged obscene payments of more than R200 million by BAE. One of our citizens once served in the Department of Defence. Whilst S A Police investigators have been impotent, other investigators abroad are about to blow the lid on some of the alleged 28 politically well-connected individuals who cashed in. The fact that BAE recently settled a 286 million fine for failing to comply with global antibribery rules is evidence that BAE has been using improper influence. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]