NATIONAL CONVENTIONAL ARMS CONTROL SECRETARIAT
WRITTEN REPLY TO PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Question 702 (NW864E)
Mr D J Maynier (DA) to ask the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development:
Whether the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) Inspectorate has conducted any investigations since 20 February 2003 to ensure that the trade in conventional arms is conducted in compliance with the National Conventional Arms Control Act, Act 41 of 2002, with regard to (a) Libya, (b) Iran, (c) Syria, (d) Madagascar, (e) North Korea, (f) Zimbabwe; if not, why not, in each specified case; if so, what are the relevant details, in each specified case?
Written Reply
The National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) was established during 1995 while the Inspectorate was established in terms of the National Conventional Arms Control Act, Act 41 of 2002, (NCAC Act). The Inspectorate was established in 2006 and became operational on 1 September 2007. No investigations were therefore conducted by the Inspectorate since 20 February 2003 until the commencement of the functioning of the Inspectorate in 2007.
No investigations were conducted since 1 September 2007 by the Inspectorate in relation to Libya, Syria, Madagascar and Zimbabwe as investigations are initiated based on NCACC instructions, complaints lodged with the Inspectorate or contraventions of the NCAC Act found by the Inspectorate during investigations or audits.
No instructions, complaints or contraventions with regard to the above countries were received / found during audits or inspections conducted. In conducting audits on the Armaments Related Industry, all transactions concluded by such company with foreign entities in foreign countries are audited in terms of its compliance with the provisions of the NCAC Act. Any transgressions found will duly be reported to the NCACC and criminal investigations initiated.
The following investigations were conducted on Iran and North Korea:
a. Iran: A compliant was received from members of the Wassenaar Arrangement with regard to Icarus Marine (Pty) Ltd and its possible involvement in the conveyance of a boat, Bladerunner 51, to Iran. The matter has been investigated and concluded. The Bladerunner 51 is not controlled under the NCAC Act and its accompanying regulations (see here).
b. North Korea: During November 2009 a Note Verbal was received relating to information on a shipment of North Korean military equipment which was to be transhipped via South Africa to the Republic of Congo in breach of a United Nations sanction. The Inspectorate caused the containers to be searched and seized the controlled goods. The equipment has been forfeited to the Government of South Africa and the matter has been closed.
MR J T RADEBE, MP
MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Issued by Parliament, April 5 2012
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