South Africa’s Defense Export Contracts Fall By Half This Year

According to a report published by the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC), the South African government has approved the sale of military equipment worth R4.88 billion (USD $593 million) this year. The latest figures indicate a fall compared with previous years. In 2011, export permits issued to 82 countries totaled up to $1.1 billion while South Africa issued import permits to 65 countries worth $512 million. In 2010, the export figures were valued at $1.02 billion; in 2009 it was estimated at $952 million and finally in 2008 the export figures stood at $718 million. The report indicates that between April 1 and June 30 this year, the government approved sales worth $340 million to 50 countries such as the U.S, India, China and Zimbabwe. During the first three months of this year, the NCACC approved 16 contracts worth $64 million and approved 437 export permits to 42 countries worth $190 million. Sales included weapons, munitions, turrets, tanks, anti-tank missiles, APCs, radars and MRAPs. The NCACC regulates all arms trades, military exercises, peacekeeping operations and the supply of foreign military assistance and then reports them to the Parliament. Earlier this year, South Africa conducted peacekeeping operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, an anti-piracy Operation Copper with Mozambique and a Southern African Development Community training and skills exchange exercise with Zambia.