PRETORIA – South Africa’s Defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula yesterday said AfriForum should have talked to her first before deciding to go to court about the supply of helicopters by the defence force to the Zimbabwean army.
Report by EWN/Safa
A court ruled that no helicopter or spares could be sent to Zimbabwe until a full hearing could be held on February 19.
Zimbabwe is also subject to a European Union arms embargo.
Mapisa-Nqakula said the helicopters and spare parts are part of an agreement between South Africa and Zimbabwe to supply military parts when needed.
The minister said the decision by AfriForum to go to court about the supply of helicopters is regrettable because she could have given them the answers they were looking for.
“We made a pledge to these countries that we would assist them and that’s what we were doing. AfriForum should have come to us for clarity.”
Mapisa-Nqakula said South Africa is giving similar support to Nambia and Mozambique.
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She is currently attending the African Union summit because the summit needs to make crucial decisions about the beefing up of a military presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Some have expressed concern that the helicopters could be used by Zanu-PF during the upcoming Zimbabwean elections.
The 2008 general elections were marred by violence and allegations of vote-rigging.
The Mail&Guardian newspaper reported last Friday that fears had surfaced that retired military helicopters from the South Africa National Defence Force (SANDF) would be used to prop up President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF.
However, SANDF corporate communication director brigadier-general Xolani Mabanga said the decision to donate and dispose of Alouette III helicopter airframes and spares to the Zimbabwean Defence Forces was made by former Defence minister Joe Modise in 1997, when they were being phased out of service.
The Mail&Guardian reported that the SANDF was “about to send a gift of helicopters and spares to its Zimbabwean counterparts, raising the spectre they will be used in a military-backed campaign to put Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party back in power in polls expected this year”.
