Law society welcomes arms inquiry

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. - Sapa