The arms deal commission’s hearing was halted because cross-examination transcripts were not available owing to a staff shortage. The commission announced this week that it would cut its staff complement.
The commission has also been dogged by allegations that some of its evidence leaders are yet to be paid for their work.
However, the unavailability of a document manager, whose contract was not renewed this week, has already affected the work of the commission. It is unclear whether the commission will employ another document manager before the public hearings continue next week.
The commission has confirmed the non-renewal of the contracts of six staff members from the research and legal division, raising further suspicion that a cache of documents about the arms deal which are still at the NPA offices in Silverton, Tshwane, are unlikely to be touched.
The Sunday Independent understands most staff were shocked that their contracts were not renewed this week, and questions have been raised about the likely impact of the exodus.
But the commission has dismissed these concerns. “The work of the commission has now shifted to the public hearings, and only a few legal professionals are required to assist the evidence leaders in this process.
“Second, there is a need to save costs in view of the budgetary constraints that the commission has to contend with,” said commission spokesman William Baloyi.
Baloyi rejected allegations that some of the staff were released because they did not subscribe to the so-called second agenda that former evidence leader Norman Moabi accused chairman Judge Willie Seriti of enforcing at the commission.
“That is completely false. The best way to reduce our staff complement is by not extending some of the contracts, especially the legal professionals,” Baloyi said.
According to Baloyi, all the evidence leaders had been paid for their work, except those who had not submitted their claims. “Evidence leaders submit their invoices for work done, and payment is made on the basis of such invoices. If any evidence leader has not been paid, this will be because he/she has not yet submitted his/her invoice for work done. The story that one or two evidence leaders have not been paid for the last 18 months is patently false,” Baloyi said.
The commission is expected to revise its witness list after being hit by delays caused by, among other things, the declassification of documents and the commission not being ready to begin the hearings on August 5 this year, as was expected.
Former cabinet ministers who were scheduled to appear before the end of the year look likely to appear only next year, while former president Thabo Mbeki’s scheduled appearance on January 22 is also expected to be moved to later in the year. - Sunday independent