NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION FOR ORAL REPLY
QUESTION 185 (N0 3766E).
Mr D J Maynier (DA) to ask the Minister of Defence and Military
Veterans:
(1) Whether she has been informed that Mr Tony Yengeni, who has been
appointed to the South African Defence Review Committee, has
been convicted of a criminal offence relating to arms
acquisition and has been convicted of a second offence for
illegally holding company directorships; if not, what is the
position in this regard; if so, why was the person appointed;
(2) Whether the person disclosed this information to her prior to
such appointment; if not, what is the position in this regard;
if so, why was the person appointed;
(3) Whether she intends to reconsider her appointment of the person
to the South African Defence Review Committee; if not, why not;
if so, what are the relevant details? NO3766E
RESPONSE
The facts about Mr Yengeni:
⢠Mr Yengeni was not convicted for any offence relating to any arms
acquisition or the so-called âArms Dealâ, as the Honourable Member
Maynier suggests.
⢠Mr Yengeni was convicted for not disclosing certain information to
Parliament. I understand that in recent times he was found to have
held directorship(s) in companies. This, I am informed is not in
line with the Companies Act.
⢠We have not found any law that disqualifies him from serving his
country as he does now in the Defence Review Committee.
⢠The Defence Review is an Ad Hoc Committee appointed in terms of the
Defence Act to advise the Minister.
⢠The Committee is not a company so the Companies Act does not apply
in his case.
⢠I appointed him to serve on the Review Committee because of his
experience in defence matters.
Mr Yengeni was convicted and he paid his due by serving a prison
sentence and was released from custody.
It is our view that Mr Yengeni be allowed to carry on with his life
and be able to serve his country in any capacity that the country
needs him.
2. Yes, Mr Yengeni disclosed this information. In any case, these
matters were in the public domain and the Ministry was thus aware of
this fact.
3. Not.