6 August - The ruling African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa has dismissed claims by the opposition Democratic Alliance that government had approved doggy arms deals, some to countries under the arms embargo.

Responding to the claims in parliament, the Justice and Constitutional Development Minister, Jeff Radebe, said the government would in no way act in a manner that undermines the laws governing the procurement of arms.

The DA had alleged that the country's arms control body had authorised deals such as a weapons exhibition for North Korea and possible sales to Iran, Syria and Libya, further saying other approvals were made when the body had not been meeting.

Mr Radebe said government took the allegations very seriously and that such could never be left unchallenged. He further warned that the portfolio committee in parliament will investigate the DA's claims and how it had arrived at their allegations.

"South Africa is committed to the international agenda of responsible trade in arms," he said.

He said it was in this spirit of commitment that South Africa established government structures to deal with the regulation of various kinds of arms, adding that each of the structures operated on the basis of a legal framework and that there was no way the alleged "dodgy" deal could have occurred.

"Decisions taken by the NCACC meetings are executed by the NCACC secretariat in terms of the practical issuing of the permits to the defence industry applicants," added Mr Radebe.

Earlier, the DA had been accused of bring to the public ‘stolen information’ when the allegations surfaced.

The arms deals in South Africa have been some of the most scandalous with several former and current leaders having been questioned in relation to some of the international deals.

By staff writer

© afrol News