According to a memorandum attached to the draft Armaments Corporation of South Africa Limited Bill, Armscor was established in 1968.
Its main functions included developing and manufacturing armaments, acquiring armaments on behalf of the government, and controlling imports and exports of armaments in South Africa.
However, significant changes occurred in the 1990s in respect of the corporation.
The functions of developing and manufacturing armament were transfered from Armscor to Denel (Pty) Ltd, and control over conventional armaments was transferred to the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC).
The creation of the defence secretariat in 1995 led to greater control over the acquisition of armament by the defence department.
As a result, the defence white paper, the defence review, and the white paper on defence-related industries called for a review of Armscor's role, functions, and mandate.
The draft bill now proposes that Armscor continue to exist as a juristic person with the state as sole shareholder.
In terms of the bill, the corporation will be responsible for meeting the department's defence materiel needs effectively, efficiently, and economically, and in the same manner, the defence technology, research, development, analysis, test, and evaluation requirements - Sapa
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