Military equipment almost auctioned
Date: 17 March 2013
The following is a rough translation of an Afrikaans article that appeared in the Beeld newspaper:
By Erika Gibson
Aircraft parts sent by Air Force for servicing in a foreign country was almost sold at a public auction, due to a delay in issuing permits to re-import it again.
Some of the parts had been delayed from a week to eight weeks and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) had stored the items in their bonded warehouse in Johannesburg. After intervention at Directors General level between Treasury and the Department of Trade and Industry, the equipment was handed over to Armscor.
When the uproar over the seizure broke last week break, the staff of the directorate handling the permits for the Department of Defense was at a planning session at a resort. Everyone's cell phones was switched off.
Armscor spokesperson Daphney Chuma said that parts from the Air Force's strategic arms purchases - presumably warplanes or helicopters - were sometimes serviced in a foreign country by the original supplier. The servicing contracts had already taken effect in 2004.
Every time the parts leave the country or re-enter, import permits are required. It is managed by the Department of Defence's Directorate conventional arms control.
According to Chuma the parts are usually returned when it is finished and the permit has been issued by the time it arrives in South Africa.
Meanwhile, it remains the property of the Air Force. If goods lay for more than 60 days in SARS warehouses, it is deemed forfeited. The goods are then sold at public auction.
Adrian Lackay, SARS spokesman, gave the assurance that after the Beeld's enquiry, it was made sure that no further military equipment was included in the auction goods. According to him, the necessary feedback about the mess and the release of the goods is being given in writing to the army's intelligence service.
Brigadier-General. Xolani Mabanga, army spokesman, said in response that due to the "sensitive nature" of the equipment he may not say anything, because it could affect national security.
