In the media
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26 June 2014
SABC Newsroom
Lawyers for Human Rights have been interviewed on SABC Newsroom about the violence witnessed at the Marabastad refugee reception office in Pretoria last week and outcome of a statelessness case.
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23 June 2014
The Times
As the world celebrated Refugee Day last week , security guards - employed by the Department of Home Affairs - sjambokked and pepper- sprayed asylum-seekers in Marabastad.
The department has stopped refugee reception offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth from registering new asylum claims. The only offices that take on new claims are in Marabastad, Durban, Musina and the Tshwane Interim Refugee Reception office.
Lawyers for Human Rights members who visited the Marabastad reception office last week witnessed the attack.
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19 June 2014
Sapa
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) needs access to key evidence in the Seriti Commission of Inquiry to help the commission, it said on Wednesday.
“It is important to note that these documents are vital in enabling us to prepare properly to give our evidence during phase II of the hearings, expected to begin in July,” LHR said in a statement.
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15 June 2014
Sunday Independent
Arms deal politicians stick to guns
Don’t expect fireworks when Thabo Mbeki takes the stand at the arms deal inquiry. During the recent Arms Procurement Commission hearings in Pretoria, his former colleagues have presented a united front, telling the commission that the 1999 arms deal arose from legitimate defence policy, the equipment was essential, the deal was subject to public oversight, and it was fair and affordable.
Even an opposition party leader stood with them.
None of that is surprising.
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12 June 2014
Talk Radio 702
You may need: Adobe Flash Player. Andrew Feinstein chats to 702's Bruce Whitfield over the cross-examination of former finance minister Trevor Manual at the Arms Procurement Commission.
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13 June 2014
Business Day
Former finance minister Trevor Manuel has denied telling former African National Congress (ANC) MP Andrew Feinstein possible wrongdoing in the 1999 arms deal would not be uncovered.
Mr Manuel was testifying on Thursday before the Arms Procurement Commission into fraud, corruption, impropriety or irregularity in the government’s acquisition of arms worth R29.9bn.
Mr Manuel was cross-examined by Annemarie de Vos SC, for Mr Feinstein and researchers Paul Holden and Hennie van Vuuren.
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13 June 2014
eNCA
The odds are stacked against the truth in the Seriti Commission of Inquiry probing allegations of fraud and corruption in the multi-billion rand arms deal.
That’s the view of one of the deal’s main critics, Hennie van Vuuren.
Van Vuuren has criticised the performance of former government ministers who have testified so far, and the way the commission has been conducted.
I think it’s important for the public not necessarily to lose faith in the commission.
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11 June 2014
Mail & Guardian Online
Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota gave evidence at the arms deal commission on Wednesday morning. He had been defence minister for six months when the R70-billion arms deal was signed, in 1999.
On Wednesday, advocate Anna-Marie De Vos, for Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR), asked Lekota if he knew whether the ANC had benefited from the deal financially. “I would reject such an assertion,” Lekota said, shortly before he was excused from the commission.
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10 June 2014
Mail & Guardian Online
At a meeting in August 1998, government apparently decided to buy expensive Hawk trainer jets instead of cheaper options available, as part of the arms deal packages, according to minutes prepared by Chippy Shaik.
Government has always maintained the Hawk planes were the best option available, so it was prepared to pay the extra amount. Now another set of minutes from that meeting has emerged at the commission, which casts doubt on government’s version.
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10 June 2014
The Star
It was a massive project, but there were some gaps in the ministers’ filing.
The government’s chief negotiator for the 1999 arms deal, Jayendra Naidoo, told the Arms Procurement Commission that “the negotiation process was conducted with great intensity and professionalism by the departments and officials participating. The result was a consensus between the government departments and ministers that an improved outcome had been secured and one which was affordable.”
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