Latest news with #RDM
The South African
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Anti-War Protests at RDM Factory
Dozens of anti-war activists gathered outside the Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) factory on Tuesday, 10 June 2025, for a peaceful protest against the company's alleged involvement in supplying weapons to conflict zones. The demonstration, marked by passionate chants and vibrant placards, was dispersed by police, with several activists detained and taken to the station. Protesters of all ages lined up at the factory gates, holding signs reading: 'No bombs for Ukraine and Israel', 'Stop killing Palestinian children', and 'End arming apartheid'. They demanded an immediate halt to RDM's alleged weapon supplies, which they claim fuel violence in hotspots like Palestine, where they say the population faces genocide by Israel, and Ukraine, backed by the Global North in its war against Russia. The protest began peacefully, with participants chanting slogans and trying to engage factory workers. Tensions escalated when security called the SAPS. Police detained several protesters and took them to the station. Four hours later, they were released without charges. 'We stand for peace, not war!' chanted the activists, voicing frustration that South Africa, despite its laws, may be complicit in supplying weapons to conflict zones. Legal Context and Demands for Transparency Under South Africa's National Conventional Arms Control Act 41 of 2002, the country must avoid exporting weapons that could escalate regional conflicts or destabilise situations. The National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) is responsible for vetting export deals to ensure compliance. Protesters and political groups, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), question whether RDM adheres to this law by supplying weapons to conflict zones. Critics demand full transparency from the NCACC regarding RDM's export activities and strict adherence to the law, stressing that South Africa, with its history of fighting for peace and human rights, should not supply weapons to countries engaged in armed conflicts. 'South Africa cannot claim neutrality while its factories produce weapons that kill the innocent. We demand accountability,' said one protester. Questions about RDM's compliance with the National Conventional Arms Control Act remain unresolved, especially amid 2023 statistics showing arms exports rising to nearly R7.1 billion, including supplies to conflict-affected countries like the DRC.
IOL News
06-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Ntshavheni's silence on arms exports raises concerns over international obligations
Allegations of South African weapons in global conflicts prompt urgent inquiry Image: Supplied Fifty-one days have passed since the Joint Standing Committee on Defence (JSCD) requested a response from Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni regarding allegations that South African-made weapons are being used in conflicts abroad, yet no official reply has been received. The controversy began during a JSCD meeting on April 4, 2025, when Carl Niehaus, the EFF's permanent representative on the committee, raised concerns about South Africa's arms exports. Niehaus accused the government of neglecting its responsibility to monitor and regulate weapons sales to conflict-affected countries, including Israel and Ukraine. In response to these serious allegations, Ntshavheni requested additional evidence to support Niehaus's claims. Subsequently, on April 14, Niehaus submitted a comprehensive 11-page letter outlining South Africa's obligations under key international treaties, such as the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms (UNRCA), and the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW). He stated that these treaties prohibit arms sales to conflict zones and countries accused of human rights abuses, specifically naming Israel and Ukraine. Niehaus pointed out Rheinmetall, a German arms manufacturer with operations in South Africa, is reportedly expanding ammunition production at its RDM plant in South Africa to support Ukraine and replenish NATO stockpiles. He indicated that from July 2024, RDM increased its capacity from 100,000 to 150,000 shells annually, operating around the clock. Moreover, he added that Rheinmetall operates warehouses in Germany and Hungary, from which South African-manufactured shells are re-exported to Israel and Ukraine. Despite the clear evidence, over seven weeks have passed without a formal reply from Ntshavheni or the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC). When asked about this delay, Malusi Gigaba, Co-Chairperson of the JSCD, told IOL that the committee's oversight visit to Rheinmetall and other military equipment manufacturers had been postponed due to Parliament's busy schedule and ongoing BRICS forums. Gigaba acknowledged the delay but emphasised that the committee had urged the Minister to respond urgently, citing the Powers, Privileges, and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act, which mandates truthful and comprehensive disclosures to Parliament. Niehaus expressed frustration with the silence, stating, 'I provided detailed information on April 14, and yet, 51 days later, there has been no response. I take this silence as a form of consent—or complicity.' He further highlighted that the lack of response undermines South Africa's international commitments and raises serious questions about the country's role in global conflicts. He added, 'South Africa's failure to address these allegations effectively makes a mockery of our international legal obligations and suggests that we are indirectly complicit in the ongoing genocide in Palestine through the continued export of weapons to Israel.' Niehaus contends that by failing to respond, the government signals tacit approval of arms sales that may be contributing to human rights abuses and violence in conflict zones.
The South African
04-06-2025
- Business
- The South African
Amid Scandals and Silence, Rheinmetall Expands in South Africa
Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM), the South African arms manufacturer jointly owned by Germany's Rheinmetall AG and South Africa's state-owned Denel, is expanding again. On June 2, Rheinmetall announced the formation of a new company: Rheinmetall Resonant, following the acquisition of a majority stake in local firm Resonant Holdings. In recent years, RDM has been at the centre of investigations, protests, and legal action over its role in exporting weapons to conflict zones. Much of the backlash stems from findings by Open Secrets, a South African civil society group, which previously documented how RDM-manufactured weapons were used in the Saudi-led war in Yemen. Critics argue that when Germany imposed export restrictions on Saudi Arabia over human rights concerns, Rheinmetall turned to its South African subsidiary as a loophole. With South Africa's arms regulations seen as more relaxed and oversight comparatively weaker, the company was able to continue supplying Gulf allies via RDM. This model of using foreign subsidiaries to bypass national restrictions has become a deliberate strategy. A report by Investigate Europe showed how Rheinmetall systematically relies on companies like RDM not just to manufacture weapons, but to build entire ammunition plants abroad often with limited transparency or scrutiny. This practice has raised serious concerns about how little control South African authorities exert over what happens to weapons once they leave the country. That concern surfaced again last year, when a major order of RDM's 155mm artillery shells destined for Poland was reportedly delayed over fears they might ultimately be sent to Ukraine. Although South Africa maintains a formal stance of neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war, the incident raised uncomfortable questions about whether its arms industry is undermining that position. The most politically explosive allegations now involve Israel. Following the outbreak of war in Gaza, activists have warned that South African-made munitions may be reaching Israeli forces indirectly, through NATO or European allies. While there is no confirmed evidence of direct sales to Israel, arms shipped to Germany or Poland could be passed on through defence cooperation agreements. The possibility alone has caused public outrage, especially given that South Africa has filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have taken the lead in demanding accountability. Speaking on behalf of the party, Carl Niehaus accused the government of hypocrisy and called for a full inquiry into all RDM exports. He said South Africa cannot condemn Israel on the international stage while indirectly supporting its military through unchecked arms flows. He urged the government to shut down what he called a 'back door' route for weapons. Civil society organisations argue that South Africa's arms control system is outdated and effectively powerless. Once weapons are shipped, they say, authorities rely too heavily on end-user certificates—paper guarantees that mean little in practice, especially during war. Without transparent tracking or independent verification, the entire system rests on trust in a global industry notorious for secrecy and loopholes. Despite mounting concerns, Rheinmetall is tightening its grip on South Africa's defence sector. The launch of Rheinmetall Resonant underscores the company's confidence in using South Africa as a key manufacturing hub. But the expansion comes with no answers to deeper questions: is South Africa becoming a passive accomplice to foreign wars it publicly opposes? And who, exactly, is watching? As factories continue operating and new contracts are signed, the South African public is still waiting for clarity. According to a recent report by IOL, the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) has yet to respond to formal requests from the EFF for an investigation into RDM's factory and the potential routes its shells may be taking. The silence, critics argue, is only deepening the trust gap.
IOL News
30-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
The silence of the NCACC: A call for accountability in South Africa's arms trade
As the investigative spotlight shines on RDM, the deafening silence from NCACC for nearly two months now only amplifies the urgency of the situation. Image: Supplied It has now been nearly two months since the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) held its quarterly briefing on April 4, a meeting that failed to provide real answers but made one thing painfully clear: the cracks in South Africa's arms oversight regime are widening. Multiple Members of Parliament expressed sharp criticism that day, urging the NCACC to take more responsibility for South African weapons potentially finding their way into global conflict zones. Among them was MP Carl Niehaus, who didn't just speak; he acted. He submitted a formal written request demanding clarity on how locally produced munitions are being exported to countries at war, particularly Israel and Ukraine. Since then, no formal response has been received from the NCACC. The Committee has neither acknowledged the inquiry nor provided any clarification regarding the allegations. The concerns raised by Niehaus came in the wake of serious investigative reporting. In early 2024 and into 2025, platforms like Investigate Europe and Open Secrets published detailed exposés on Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM), a South African-German joint venture operating shell factories whose exports appear to bypass scrutiny and accountability routinely. The stories link RDM to weapons shipments ending up in Ukraine, Israel, and, previously, Yemen. It's a stark reality that South Africa's own legislation, which prohibits arms exports to countries in active conflict, is being blatantly disregarded. This silence not only underscores a deeper institutional issue but also highlights the alarming lack of accountability in the arms trade. Without clear penalties or deadlines, the NCACC's response to parliamentary inquiries becomes optional, and crucial issues like Niehaus's risk being swept under the rug without any consequences. At a time when the world is scrutinising the arms trade more than ever, South Africa's unregulated export of artillery shells to conflict zones sends a deeply troubling message. As a country that claims to champion peace and neutrality, this undermines South Africa's credibility on the global stage and places it in a morally ambiguous, if not outright condemnable, position. Even more disturbing is the complete lack of response from RDM itself. The company has made no effort to address the accusations or even issue a public statement clarifying its compliance with the NCACC's export regulations. This is not a minor oversight. When your company is being named in connection with possible arms exports to war zones, the absolute minimum response should be transparency. Instead, RDM has chosen the same path as the NCACC complete silence. It's worth asking why. The refusal to engage only deepens suspicions. If there is nothing to hide, then why not speak up? If the company is indeed acting within the legal framework, a brief statement would be enough to at least reassure some of the public and parliamentarians who are now rightfully concerned. If the NCACC cannot respond to a parliamentary inquiry promptly, especially under such circumstances, then what exactly is it doing? Who is it protecting? The public? Or the arms industry? Parliament deserves an answer. * Bayethe Msimang is an independent writer and analyst. ** The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of IOL or Independent Media.
Russia Today
28-02-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
South Africans demand closure of German arms manufacturing giant
A group of demonstrators braved the rainy weather to picket outside the Union Buildings in Pretoria demanding the closure of the Rheinmetall in South Africa and more control over arms sales to Israel and Ukraine. According to Thuto Mashaba, who led the protest this week, stated this was a continuation of the picket in Boksburg last month, which protested Rheinmetall's supply of weapons to Israel and Ukraine. Although the German armaments firm has publicly acknowledged that it supplies weapons to Ukraine, he underlined that activists are extremely concerned that it is still producing artillery shells. 'We demanded that President Cyril Ramaphosa 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,' Mashaba said. BlackRock, a US financial corporation, holds the majority of shares in Rheinmetall Denel Munitions (RDM), a multinational arms manufacturer headquartered in Germany with operations in South Africa. According to the company's recent report, the German military's inventories are being reduced as a result of massive armament sales to Israel and Ukraine. RDM's South African division is a major supplier of 155mm ammunition. Israel and Ukraine both purchase weaponry from Rheinmetall's South African facility. The US Department of Defense recently announced that South Africa is a member of the Ukraine Defence Contact Support Group (UDCG). Notwithstanding South African regulations that forbid gun manufacturers from delivering their goods to areas of conflict, this activity is taking place. In a recent statement, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said for the war in the Ukraine where artillery stockpile shortages have been replenished by South African sales. 'As a consequence of our dismal lack of arms control and failure to adhere to our domestic law and regulations, as well as international arms control regulations, we are guilty of enabling genocide. 'The EFF demands that the South African government must, as a matter of urgency, reform our weak, and administratively inept approach to weapons exports, and strengthen the capacity of the NCACC to fulfil its legal mandate,' the EFF said. The red berets said it is simply untenable for South Africa to state in the ICJ that Israel is committing genocide, while weapons manufactured in South Africa supply Israel with the means to commit genocide. It is currently alleged that Rheinmetall circumvents South Africa's stringent export regulations by using its international network to divert ammunition from the factory to conflict areas after it is formally sold to Germany or other nations. IOL tried to get a comment from Rheinmetall but to no published by IOL
