What are our Ratels doing in Yemen?

David Maynier

08 June 2011

DA MP calls on NCACC to investigate how infantry vehicles ended up in that country

NCACC should investigate Ratel infantry vehicles in Yemen

The Democratic Alliance (DA) believes that Jeff Radebe, Chairperson of the National Conventional Arms Committee (NCACC), should launch an investigation into how converted Ratel infantry vehicles, previously operated by the South African National Defence Force, found their way to Yemen.

Over one hundred pictures of demonstrations in Yemen were recently published by Reuters and the Associated Press. The series includes a number of pictures of a converted Ratel infantry vehicle in Yemen, one of which can be viewed here

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The picture, taken on 7 June 2011, depicts a converted Ratel infantry vehicle reportedly operated by defecting soldiers in Sanaa, Syria.

The NCACC's latest annual report records that R373.8 million worth of conventional arms were sold to Yemen in 2010. Conventional arms exports to Yemen last year included R239.4 million worth of "Category A" conventional weapons, which are described as "major conventional implements of war that could cause heavy personnel casualties."

There is no evidence suggesting that the Ratel infantry vehicles were exported directly from South Africa to Yemen.

However:

• a number of surplus Ratel infantry vehicles, previously operated by the South African National Defence Force, were reportedly exported to Jordan;
• the Paramount Group, in cooperation with the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB), produce a converted version of the Ratel infantry vehicle in Jordan; and
• the infantry vehicle, depicted in the picture taken in Sanaa, Yemen, appears to be the converted version of the Ratel infantry vehicle produced by the Paramount Group and KADDB in Jordan.

We cannot sit back and allow conventional weapons manufactured in our country to end up in the hands of regressive regimes such as Yemen.

The Democratic Alliance will therefore write to Jeff Radebe, Chairperson of the NCCAC, and request an investigation into how converted Ratel infantry vehicles, previously operated by the South African National Defence Force, found their way to Yemen.

Statement issued by David Maynier MP, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, June 8 2011

http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page72308?oid=240082&sn=Marketingweb+detail&pid=90389