Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT ON SOUTH AFRICAN EXPORT CONTROLS - NORMALIZATION OF DEFENCE TRADE INVOLVING ISCOR, DENEL, FUCHS ELECTRONICS AND RELATED ENTITIES
Vice President Al Gore and Deputy President Thabo Mbeki jointly announced today the normalization of defence trade between the U.S and South Africa. This will take effect immediately through the suspension of debarment of South African companies which had been prohibited from U.S. defence trade.
Until now, the South African parastatal companies Armscor, Denel and its divisions including Kentron, as well as a private firm, Fuchs Electronics, have been prohibited from participating in transactions involving U.S.- origin defence articles, defence services and related technology because of actions undertaken during the apartheid era.
In July, 1996, Vice President Gore and South African Deputy President Mbeki agreed to a framework for resolution of the issues related to the violations. It included the establishment of export control compliance programs in each company. The U.S. and South Africa have each determined that these compliance programs are satisfactory. The programs, which were reviewed by U.S experts 20-26 February 1998 in South Africa, are designed to ensure compliance with U.S. defence trade law and regulations when handling U.S. origin items.
The suspension of debarment opens the door for normalized defence trade between the U.S. and South Africa. Requests to the U.S. Government concerning defence trade transactions that involve the South African companies no longer be subject to a presumption of denial. Instead, they will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with US foreign policy and national security criteria.
Enquiries: Dumisani Kum ... 083-7793210
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON BEHALF OF DEPUTY PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI AND VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE PRETORIA 28 FEBRUARY 1998