the arms deal, formally known as the strategic defence package, was a multi-billion dollar deal involving arms acquisitions from countries such as germany and france. this arms deal set a precedent for cases of large-scale corruption and high levels of bribery and embezzlement in the african national congress. this arms deal came at a time when the aids epidemic was rampant throughout africa and poverty and inequality in the region still remained among the highest in the world. taxpayers protested the arms deal through a public interest lawsuit claiming that the deal was unconstitutional and irrational. various south african and international evidence teams have been investigating the arms deal since the early 2000s. rumors of embezzlement, bribes, and kick-backs sent the way of the anc, have also prompted further investigations. in 2011, former president zuma appointed a commission of enquiry headed by judge seriti. to investigate allegations of impropriety, fraud, and corruption around the 1998 arms deal.