The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday submitted urgent written questions to Minister in the Presidency and the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) chairperson to obtain the full findings of the NCACC/ Directorate: Conventional Arms Control (DCAC) investigation into the alleged use of South African technology in Russian drones.

The party noted a recent media report that said laser range-finding equipment manufactured by South African firm LightWare Optoelectronics had been recovered from Russian suicide drones used in the war against Ukraine.

DA spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans Chris Hattingh said the use of South African-made tech in Russian war drones was alarming and threatened South Africa’s “already fragile” international standing, risked complicity in violations of international law, and shredded the country’s claimed neutrality.

“It also raises hard questions about the integrity of our national arms-control regime, notably the performance of the Directorate: Conventional Arms Control and the National Conventional Arms Control Committee, and whether South African technology is being diverted into weapons systems that may be used to commit war crimes,” he said.

Hattingh pointed out that LightWare had stated its product was civilian and that any military use would be an illicit diversion.

“…that assertion, even if accepted, does not absolve government. As a Wassenaar Arrangement participant, South Africa is also obliged to control dual-use goods, including optics and sensors, and prevent diversion through grey routes,” he said.

The DA wants to know whether the entity involved was authorised to export dual-use goods, and if not, what penalties will be pursued under the NCACC Act, which allows authorities to enforce end-user controls, post-shipment verification, and, where necessary, refusals, suspensions, or cancellations.

The DA also wants to know what remedial controls will be implemented to prevent recurrence, including broker controls, resale restrictions, and routine post-delivery verification.

Hattingh said the appearance of South African-made components in a Russian attack drone was not just embarrassing, but a national security and diplomatic failure.

“The DA will not allow this matter to vanish behind the veil of secrecy that too often hangs over the DCAC and NCACC. South Africans, and our international partners, deserve transparency and accountability,” he stated.

The DA said it would continue to apply maximum pressure to ensure South Africa wais not complicit, directly or indirectly, in the conflict in Ukraine.

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