The suspicion around the company, partly owned by the South African government, coincides with claims that the South African National Defence Force lacks basic military equipment and would have been out of their depths against M23 rebels in Eastern DRC where 13 South Africans were killed this week as the rebels advance towards the city of Goma.ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula said the government is yet to see proof that Rheinmetall Denel Munition ( partly owned by the government) was shipping arms to countries it is not supposed to be supplying.“
We have not seen any proof really and we don’t want to engage in speculation but we would be very disappointed. We hope they are not indeed shipping weapons to those countries ( Ukraine and Israel). You have got to be responsible with these things,” said Mbalula.
A group of activists staged a picket on Tuesday calling the German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall to stop the sale of artillery shells to Ukraine and Israel. Last week reports emerged with Parliamentarians and diplomats expressing outrage at Rheinmetall’s supply of arms to Ukraine and Israel. Rheinmetall is also accused of exploiting loopholes in South Africa’s export laws. In response, non-governmental organisations, activists and experts have demanded that the President and the Government at the very least check the activities of the Rheinmetall plant for compliance with South Africa’s official policy of not intervening in international conflicts or supplying arms to third countries. At the most – to stop the activities of the ammunition factory. For many years, South Africa’s Rheinmetall factory produced artillery shells. But things began to heat up in mid-2024, when reports emerged that these shells were going where they shouldn’t. Rheinmetall is now accused of using its global network to bypass South Africa’s strict export controls: ammunition from the factory is officially shipped to Germany or other countries, but is then redirected to conflict zones. Activit Kholo Madiba said they took the initiative to highlight the dangers of allowing Rheinmettall to do as it wishes.
“We stands for peace. We call for an end to the killing of our sisters and brothers in Gaza, and Russia.”
“Today we are here to call for the company to be transparent, and for Parliament to do its job by ensuring that Rheinmetall products do not violate SA arms regulations,” she said.
Another Activist Agnes Motaung said South Africa and Africa in general is supporting Russia and Palestine, and therefore there is a need to force Parliament to zoom deeper into the activities of Rheinmetall, and check where weapons made in South Africa ended up being. “We say comply or Shut Down The Death Factory! We are united in asking these Questions: Do we really know where Rheinmetall’s weapons go? Should SA be worried? What role can Parliament play in this regard? Is there enough civil society voice against this profiteering? She asked standing outside the heavily guarded Rheinmetall’s Boksburg offices. Major deliveries of military material and extensive logistical support make Rheinmetall Ukraine’s most important defence industry partner in the fight against Russian, for this, activists called for the SA government to launch an inquiry into the activities of Rheinmetall. The company confirmed that it has already founded the joint venture Rheinmetall Ukrainian Defence Industry LLC with a Ukrainian state-owned company in October 2023. They believe this move will fuel the War between Ukraine and Russia. Rheinmetall is now accused of using its global network to bypass South Africa’s strict export controls: ammunition from the factory is officially shipped to Germany or other countries, but is then possibly redirected to conflict zones. Can the company come clean? Motaung asked.
The suspicion around the company, partly owned by the South African government, coincides with claims that the South African National Defence Force lacks basic military equipment and would have been out of their depths against M23 rebels in Eastern DRC where 13 South Africans were killed this week as the rebels advance towards the city of Goma.
ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula said the government is yet to see proof that Rheinmetall Denel Munition ( partly owned by the government) was shipping arms to countries it is not supposed to be supplying.
“ We have not seen any proof really and we don’t want to engage in speculation but we would be very disappointed. We hope they are not indeed shipping weapons to those countries ( Ukraine and Israel). You have got to be responsible with these things,” said Mbalula.