The arms deal inquiry cost a cool R137 264 521 and found no evidence of wrongdoing, a parliamentary reply has revealed.

Of that, R93 148 779 was spent on evidence leaders, forensic auditing, and a research consultant.

The information was contained in a reply by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development to a question by Democratic Alliance MP David Maynier.

The Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of Fraud, Corruption, Impropriety or Irregularity in the Strategic Defence Procurement Packages (SDPP) dealt with allegations made in Parliament in 1999. Then-Pan Africanist Congress leader Patricia De Lille said that a deal to buy new military hardware for the country could be suspect.

The commission was established in late 2011 and completed its public hearings and other processes in June 2015. The report was completed in December 2015 and handed to President Jacob Zuma. The government bought, among other items, 26 Gripen fighter aircraft, 24 Hawk lead-in fighter trainer aircraft for the SA Air Force, and frigates and submarines for the SA Navy.

On April 21, 2016, Zuma announced that Judge William Seriti had found no evidence of wrongdoing. Many opposition parties said the inquiry was a whitewash and a waste of money. According to the reply, the costs included:
- Compensation of employees: R30 350 789;
- Evidence leaders: R82 838 457;
- Forensic auditor: R9 780 232;
- Research  consultant: R530 090;
- Transcription services: R624 095;
- Travel and subsistence: R7 294 171; Some of the evidence leaders' costs were:
- Senior evidence leader Tayob Aboobaker: R4 697 087;
- Senior evidence leader Simon Lebala: R13 070 100;
- Senior evidence leader Moss Mphaga: R10 195 875;
- Evidence leader Phumlani Ngobese: R8 672 127; Forensic auditor Jabulani Mahlangu's fee was R9 780 232 and researcher RW Palmer’s was R530 090.