Arms deal; Safe in the HANDS of Zuma?

In 1994 the South African government announced that it intended re-equipping the air force and navy. Four years later, the arms deal was signed and so began a saga that has seldom been far from the news

President Zuma came under the firing line again this Thursday when the Leader of the Democratic Alliance in Parliament, Lindiwe Mazibuko asked him whether he intended to release the full and unexpurgated final report to be produced by the commission and whether steps would be taken against the persons that may be implicated in the report.

We live in a country governed by the nominal concept of democracy which has made it possible for the public to become involved with regards to the Arms deal & what exactly went down. However along with the democracy there happens to be a fair amount of corruption as well.

 There is a great deal of public concern about the fact that this report will not be made public because it might implicate some senior members of government, even senior members of your own Cabinet.

 "I honestly believe that if you think the public interest and the principles to which you are enjoined are the issue at heart, then you have to commit to this House that you will release the report and you will make it public within a reasonable timeframe, say three months of it being tabled to you, in order to give the public the assurance that this government will not tolerate corruption within its senior ranks," said Mazibuko.

Why does government feel the need to expose only what they want the public to know? Are we to, not entitled to be in the know?

 Two years ago the arms deal only cost SA approximately R47-billion. It had then ballooned from the initial cost of approximately R30-billion.The arms deal has cost the South Africa public over R70-billion.

With figures like that, I think it is only fair that President Zuma ‘fess up  the findings as per the commissioner who has sweeping powers to search and seize, subpoena witnesses and to compel them to answer questions.

Seems like the President to easily forgets that the same people who elected him into power April 2009 are the very same who can leave him position less. With democratic elections only one year away, these questions need to be answered.