Formally known as the Strategic Defence Package, the arms deal, to use its notorious nickname, was a multi-billion-rand military acquisition project finalised in 1999 by the South African government.
If allegations of large-scale bribery and corruption currently under investigation by a top-level commission are proven true, it will be the biggest corruption scandal in the country’s history, with millions of rands of public money lost to bribery and other irregularities.
With the Seriti Commission now probing these allegations, we put the arms deal into context with our dedicated new mini-site.
Get the background information on this far-reaching and controversial project – read about how it all began, who was involved, what their roles were, and why the arms deal has had such an impact on South African politics and democracy.
