Trevor Manuel to testify at arms commission

Former finance minister Trevor Manuel will testify on Wednesday before the Seriti Commission of Inquiry into the multi-million rand arms deal.

Manuel was finance minister at the time of the 1999 deal.

High-profile individuals who testified at the commission so far include former trade and industry minister Alec Erwin and former intelligence minister Ronnie Kasrils. Kasrils was deputy minister of defence at the time of the arms purchase.

Former defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota will finish giving testimony on Wednesday morning.

President Jacob Zuma appointed the commission in 2011 to investigate alleged corruption in the 1999 multi-billion rand deal.

Government acquired, among other hardware, 26 Gripen fighter aircraft and 24 Hawk lead-in fighter trainer aircraft for the air force, and frigates and submarines for the navy.