DENEL CONTROVERSY

DENEL was warned by the State Security Agency (SSA) that its apparent efforts to frustrate the Oppenheimers in their Fireblade luxury VVIP terminal in Johannesburg would find itself in court and had the potential to embarrass the government‚ leaked e-mails suggest.

A trail of confidential communication between the SSA and Denel – which was forwarded to a Gupta company e-mail address and now leaked to Times Media – suggest Denel tried to strong-arm the Oppenheimers out of an agreement that allowed Fireblade to operate at OR Tambo International Airport.

At the time of the leaked communication‚ Denel had informed Fireblade that it needed to get security clearance from the SSA to allow it to operate international flights from the luxury terminal.

But this had never been a condition of Fireblade’s agreement with Denel when it leased property from the arms manufacturer at the airport to operate the terminal.

A leaked letter from SSA acting director-general at the time‚ Bheki Langa‚ to Denel chairman Daniel Mantsha shows the agency anticipated that the dispute would find itself in court because of this.

The SSA also had no knowledge of such a requirement.

This correspondence was forwarded to the Guptas.

The Oppenheimers claimed in court papers served on then Home Affairs minister Malusi Gigaba in November that the Guptas tried to use their influence over Denel to hijack the project. Gigaba‚ Denel and the Guptas denied this.

The Oppenheimers have claimed SSA security clearance on which Denel was insisting was fabricated to create a contractual dispute that could result in Fireblade losing the lease at the airport.

The documents reveal how Mantsha wrote to Nicky Oppenheimer in February last year saying Denel required security clearance from SSA so it could allow Fireblade Aviation to use the leased premises for international flights.

Two weeks later‚ Langa replied to Mantsha. The letter showed that the SSA was not aware of the required security clearance and asked for more detail from Denel.

Langa also warned that a legal dispute could “jeopardise the integrity of government and its related governance processes”.

Despite this‚ Denel has insisted that the Oppenheimers comply with national security legislation.

SSA spokesman Brian Fikani Dube refused to comment yesterday.

The November court papers reveal how two former Gupta pilots claimed the Gupta family had allegedly tried to wrest control of the terminal from the Oppenheimers

Denel is connected to the Guptas through its controversial joint venture with VR Laser Asia, owned by Gupta associate Salim Essa.

Further leaked e-mails show the Guptas have a stake in the joint venture as details of an agreement were sent to Tony Gupta.

While the Guptas have repeatedly stated they had no stake in VR Laser Asia or the joint venture‚ its parent company in South Africa‚ VR Laser‚ is owned by Duduzane Zuma and the Guptas.

Attempts to get comment from Denel and the Guptas, through their lawyer, were unsuccessful.

Oppenheimer lawyer Duncan Butcher said the matter was sub judice.