And now the once feared South African military is in a mess.
Is it a good time to ask what happened to all the new equipment which was bought via the “Arms Deal” back in 1999? You know, the Arms Deal that cost South African tax payers $5 BILLION (R30 billion in 1999 rands)???
The rationale for the arms deal was that US$5 billion spent on warships and warplanes from Europe would somehow generate US$18 billion in offsets to create over 65 000 jobs and stimulate economic development. The scandal has become the byword for a culture of corruption that has blighted South Africa since the 1994 transition to constitutional democracy.
Of course it was nothing more than a money-laundering exercise, seeing there was at least a 10% kickback to the ANC from the companies which were awarded the tenders – so a conservative estimate would be that at least R3 000 000 000 came back to the ANC.
All the planes, helicopters, submarines, warships etc. bought at the time now lie either mothballed, due to incompetence and/or no money to use them; or, they’ve been destroyed by the new Affirmative Action pilots and military brass….
