Defence Minister’s visit on backburner, spokesman says ‘no invitation as such’
New Delhi, May 25, 2005, Shiv Aroor (Indian Express)

New Delhi had a low-key visitor from South Africa three days ago, on a mission that is perceived to be a prelude to government-level discussions between the two countries over the Denel arms controversy.

Dr Essop Goolam Pahad, key minister in President Thabo Mbeki’s office, met with South Africa’s Acting High Commissioner to India D M Nxiweni on May 23, a High Commission spokesperson here confirmed.

While officials said Pahad’s visit was not official, an officer attached to the South African Ministry for Foreign Affairs said, ‘‘He is an accomplished politician and understands Indian politics. I cannot be sure what his visit was about if his office says it was private.”

“But I imagine his knowledge, and proximity to any talk with India would be good for both governments,’’ the officer added.

Pahad’s visit came a day after his Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was to arrive on a three-day visit for a meeting of the Indo-SA Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), at which the Denel issue was to be raised. But she cancelled her visit on May 22 following the death of her mother.

The government, which has frozen all deals with Denel, following allegations last month of corruption in a 2003 deal for anti-material rifles, was requested by the arms manufacturer to take up the issue directly with the South African government.

In fact, a proposed visit of South African Defence Minister Mosuioa Lekota to New Delhi has been put on the backburner for now, following a fresh row in that country over a recent deal by the government to buy Airbus transport aircraft for peacekeeping operations.

While a visit is likely to be arranged in the next two months, Defence Minister Lekota’s spokesman Sam Mkhwanazi told The Indian Express over the phone, ‘‘There has been no invitation as such. No immediate plans to come to India. If there is an invitation, it would be arranged. Possibly in the next few months.’’

No new dates have been fixed for the postponed JMC meeting—the last session was held in Pretoria in July 2003, at which time a crucial MoU was signed between Dlamini-Zuma and then External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha on defence equipment cooperation.