PARLIAMENT is to seek legal advice on what action to take against DA MP David Maynier, whom the ANC accuses of “illegally” obtaining classified information regarding the country’s arms deal sales.
The parliamentary portfolio committee on defence announced yesterday that it planned to take legal steps against Maynier following allegations by the ANC that he had “placed the country’s security at risk” by revealing confidential information to the public.
ANC parliamentary spokesman Moloto Mothapo said the party welcomed the committee’s decision.
Mothapo said the ANC called on Parliament to investigate Maynier’s actions and the “authenticity or lack thereof” of the contents of a report he used to back his claim that the country had sold weapons to six countries with atrocious human right records.
“Notwithstanding the authenticity or lack thereof of the report’s contents, we believe that making public information detailing various arms deals between our country and other states cannot be in the best interest of the country’s national security,” Mothapo said.
Maynier yesterday said he would not back down and will continue to pressurise the ANC to launch an investigation into the sale of arms to countries with poor human rights records.
“I believe that I have acted in the public interest. I look forward to appearing before any committee. I will not stand down,” he said.
Last week, Maynier sparked controversy when he alleged that through the National Conventional Arms Control Committee the government had sold arms to North Korea, Zimbabwe, Iran, Syria, Libya and Venezuela.
The Times - DA’s Maynier sticks to his guns on arms
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