Former president Thabo Mbeki says he is frustrated by repeated claims that the purchase of military weapons and armour was a corrupt process and has challenged those making the allegations to provide evidence in court.
Mbeki responded today to the outcomes of the Seriti Arms Deal Commission of Inquiry, which found there was no corruption amid claims that the entire investigation was a whitewash.
“It becomes very frustrating when the same person who could not produce a single fact of corruption at the commission, pops up now of and says ‘there was corruption’, what corruption?” Mbeki said.
“These allegations, without facts, are based on a stereotype and the stereotype is African governments are generally corrupt therefore this African government is corrupt,” he added.
Mbeki who his furious by the refusal of whistle-blowers to testify at the commission, says he would be happy if Judge Willie Seriti’s report on the arm deal is taken on judicial review.
