The Law Society of SA on Sunday welcomed President Jacob Zuma's decision to appoint a commission of inquiry into the arms deal.

The Law Society of SA on Sunday welcomed President Jacob Zuma's decision to appoint a commission of inquiry into the arms deal.

"We commend the president on this decision and agree with him that closure on the subject will be in the public interest," said the society's co-chairmen Nano Matlala and Praveen Sham.

The LSSA urged the president to appoint a formal commission of inquiry to ensure that it had the necessary powers, legal standing and funding to carry out the inquiry credibly, transparently and expeditiously.

Zuma announced on Thursday that the investigation would be re-opened.

The Democratic Alliance and arms deal activist Terry Crawford-Browne, among others, have urged Zuma to ensure the commission is credible and independent with the resources to do its job.

Several media quoted political analysts on Friday morning as saying the decision could be related to the leadership battle within the African National Congress.

The Star quoted Aubrey Matshiqi as saying it was a strategy aimed at pre-empting Zuma's political rivals from using the arms deal to question his leadership ahead of the ANC's elective conference next year.

Zuma's spokesman Mac Maharaj said on Friday Justice Minister Jeff Radebe was working on the matter and that the terms of reference and time frame would be announced soon.

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Is the arms deal inquiry merely a cynical ANC strategy?

The Editor, The Times Newspaper | 16 September, 2011 00:09

The Times Editorial: President Jacob Zuma's announcement of a commission of inquiry into the arms deal is nothing short of a seismic event for South Africa.

Is arms deal inquiry merely a cynical ANC strategy? Since the cabinet announced 12 years ago that it would acquire aircraft, patrol ships, helicopters and submarines, the ANC government has resisted calls for an investigation of the multibillion-rand deal.

But what appears to be a capitulation to growing pressure might merely be a cynical strategy to avoid airing possibly dirty arms deal laundry in an open court.

By calling for a commission, Zuma will neatly sidestep having the Constitutional Court hear anti-arms activist Terry Crawford-Browne's challenge to have an inquiry.

Instead of the court deciding the terms of the inquiry, Zuma will now have the upper hand in choosing his chairman and deciding the scope of the investigation.

It is already suspected that Zuma's decision yesterday was informed by advice that Crawford-Browne might be successful in court - as businessman Hugh Glenister was earlier this year when the Constitutional Court ruled that part of the legislation allowing the disbanding of the Scorpions and establishment of the Hawks was constitutionally invalid.

Zuma will have his own reputation and future to consider when he lays down the terms of reference for the inquiry.

The corruption charges that were brought against him and eventually dropped in 2009 are linked to the arms deal and the dealings of convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik.

With his political future under a cloud as he heads to the ANC's elective conference next year, Zuma is unlikely to want to be caught in the commission's firing line.

And so we wait, hopeful but not entirely convinced that the commission will open a window on a deal that many view as the starting point of extreme corruption in the new South Africa.