Question NW328 to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
22 March 2022 - NW328
Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1) Whether, with reference to the Republic’s defence industry’s reliance on exports, the United Nations’ regulations on the international arms trades, and the role of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) to consider export permits, any request and/or application was received by (a) the NCACC and/or (b) any other South African entity to facilitate End-User Certificate inspections in any importer’s host nation, with specific emphasis on the Republic of Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (i) on what date was the specified request and/or application received and (ii) which countries are involved; (2) whether any inspection was agreed to by the importer’s host nation; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) on what date did and/or will the inspections take place and (b) what are the conditions imposed by the importer’s host nation on any inspections; (3) whether she has been informed of any discussion of concerns and/or considerations that are and/or could have an impact on the issuing of export permits by the NCACC; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) whether she and/or her department received any enquiries and/or complaints from certain nations on the non-issuing of export permits under approved export contracts, and/or the delaying of such, by the NCACC; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, from which nations?
Reply:
(1) The President appointed the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC} in terms of s5 of the NCAC Act (Act 41 of 2002 as amended). The NCACC is a Cabinet Committee Sui Generis. The role of the NCACC is to approve export permits in line with the NCAC Act and its attendant Regulations
(2) The Committee may not be chaired by (a) Minister(s) with a line responsibility interest in trade in Conventional Arms s5 (3). That would exclude from Chairpersonship inter alia: Defence, Trade and Industry and Competition and Finance, as prime examples.
(3) It is common cause notwithstanding that, the Minister of Defence while appointed to the NCACC as per provisions (supra). The Chair of the NCACC is the primary person responsible for the overall performance of the Committee.
(4)Therefore, the correct procedure would be to direct questions/the Parliamentary Question of/about the NCACC to the Chair of the NCACC, who is tasked with responding for the Cabinet Committee, or otherwise at the Chair's direction.