South Africa is still supplying weapons to both sides in the India-Pakistan conflict as reported in the Mail & Guardian in June.
This emerges from the latest report of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) on South Africa’s arms sales for 2000 and last year.
The release of the information has been much delayed — since March last year in the case of the figures for 2000.
India has bought approximately R600-million-worth of equipment from South Africa over the two years, while Pakistan has spent more than R110-million. South African companies have been restricted to fulfilling only existing contracts with Pakistan since the 1999 coup by General Pervez Musharraf.
The NCACC report does not provide details about the exact nature of the weapons, making public the figures only in broad categories: A, which includes large weapons systems such as tanks, planes, missiles, mortars and large calibre arms; B, hand-held weapons; C, support systems such as communication and missile guidance or propulsion systems; D, which comprises non-lethal equipment such as demining tools and tear gas; and G, which includes machinery or plant used in the making of weapons.
However, it is understood that the bulk of exports to India comprise 155mm ammunition and armoured combat vehicles. Most of Pakistan’s existing orders appear to fall in category C and are believed to relate to a contract to supply air-to-air missile technology.
Ironically, the details published by the M&G in June and confirmed this week could in future attract criminal charges under the National Conventional Arms Control Bill, due to go before Parliament later this month. The Bill makes provision for a 20-year prison sentence for the unauthorised disclosure of any confidential information related to South Africa’s arms exports.
The NCACC report reveals that we are selling arms to several states with questionable democratic or human rights credentials, although sales to Israel and Zimbabwe appear to have been suspended since the beginning of last year.
South Africa’s biggest client worldwide is Algeria, with purchases of about R676-million during the two years under review. The bulk of these are believed to flow from a contract to upgrade Algeria’s Russian-built Hind attack helicopters, which are being fitted with an entire new weapons suite, including missiles from Kentron.
The country has only recently emerged from a dirty internal war against Islamic militants, and
elections in 1999 were boycotted by several opposition parties. However, Algeria is considered an important ally in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development process and a counter to the
influence of Libya in the North African region.
Colombia, another unstable state battling internal rebel movements, has purchased equipment worth about R100-million, the bulk of which is understood to be large-calibre ammunition.
Malaysia, dominated for more than 20 years by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed, is notoriously intolerant of opposition and is regarded as a pseudo-democracy.
It remains one of South Africa’s major clients, providing business worth about R200-million, mainly related to the purchase of G5 howitzers.
Swaziland, an absolute monarchy, has purchased armoured vehicles likely to be used for riot control. Similarly, Saudi Arabia, has purchased riot-control equipment worth R21-million.