MEDIA HEADLINES ON SALE OF ARMS BY SOUTH AFRICAN ARMS MANUFACTURERS TO LIBYA ARE MISLEADING

At the International Cooperation, Trade and Security (ICTS) cluster briefing today, 22 February 2011, Defence and Military Veterans Minister, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu answered a question from a Journalist that asked: has South Africa sold arms to Libya?

The Minister replied: "Have we sold any sniper rifles to Libya? Not that I'm aware of".

The Minister did not say South Africa has not sold arms to Libya but that she is not aware of it. The Minister would not have been aware as the selling of arms and the management of the process is not managed by the Department of Defence but by the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) which is chaired by the Minister of Justice, Mr Jeff Radebe.

The Minister added that the NCACC had provided a report of activities in this regard, "We have a committee that oversees the sale of any arms or ammunition from South Africa to any country outside of ourselves. A report is provided of our activities in this regard by the NCACC and I am not aware that Libya is on the list of those countries that we have sold sniper rifles to".

The Minister then stated that what she is aware of is that South Africa has not sold a single weapon to Libya since the start of the protest.

"But if you're speaking specifically about since the... protests occurred [in Libya], it is an emphatic no. We have not sold any sniper rifles to Libya," she said.

It must be stated on record that the NCACC is the only body that regulates the sales of arms by South African arms and is the only organisation that can confirms the sale of any arms by South African companies.

FULL TRANSCRIPT FROM THE MEDIA BRIEFING

Minister Lindiwe Sisulu: Have we sold any sniper rifles to Libya? Not that I am aware of. We have a committee that oversees the sale of any arms or ammunition from South Africa to any country outside of ourselves. A report is provided of our activities in this regard by the NCACC and I am not aware that Libya is on the list of those countries that we have sold sniper rifles to. If you are speaking specifically since the incident and the protest occurred it is an emphatic no. We have not sold any sniper rifles to Libya.

Statement issued by Ndivhuwo Mabaya, Head of Media Services, Ministry of Defence and Military Veterans, February 22 2011

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