OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Thursday 5.00pm.
THE South African government’s decision to go on a massive arms shopping spree has sent out “an enormous signal” that it is serious about playing peacekeeper, Deputy Defence Minister Ronnie Kasrils s on Thursday.
“If we had put this decision off … I would say the perception out there would be — that’s South Africa, they like to talk but can’t back up their words,” Kasrils said.
On November 18 the Cabinet approved the buying of arms and military aircraft from European manufacturers worth $5-billion.
The next step is for officials to negotiate with preferred suppliers to arrive at an affordable final package. If this phase is not concluded satisfactorily the South African government will reconsider other suppliers.
Kasrils gave the following timetable for the expected acquisitions:
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four German corvettes between 2002 and 2004,
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three German submarines between 2004 and 2006,
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four British maritime helicopters between 2002 and 2004,
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40 Italian light utility helicopters between 2003 and 2007,
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24 British trainer aircraft by 2007, and
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28 Swedish/British lead-in fighter aircraft by about 2009/10.
The programme includes a complex industrial participation programme which will yield R110-billion for the South African economy and provide 65000 jobs.