South Africa's multibillionrand tainted arms deal is destroying our political life as one faction after another ignores the issues of the day to protect cronies implicated in the graft.

South Africa's multibillionrand tainted arms deal is destroying our political life as one faction after another ignores the issues of the day to protect cronies implicated in the graft.

Now opposition politicians are baying for the blood of Mbeki's attack poodle, Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad.

This seemingly, deliberately blind individual has led the government's charge against anyone who has had the temerity to suggest that ANC bigwigs feathered their own nests to grease the way for multinational arms dealers.

Pahad even forced the Sunday Times to apologise for a report that he had put pressure on ANC politicians investigating the affair.

Surprise, surprise.

Former ANC politician Andrew Feinstein, who was at the heart of the inquiry, has now written a book in which he details claims that Pahad did all he could to stymie parliament's investigation.

Will our power-drunk politicians ever learn that the truth inevitably bubbles to the surface in a democracy?

The public purse and its institutions have been raided far to long for the benefit of a small group of ANC worthies.

We can't afford more legal and political shenanigans as powerful politicians protect their ill-gotten gains.

Pahad should immediately fall on his sword if he is found to have lied to us all.