Johannesburg - The department of trade
and industry needs a policy overhaul to prevent sanctions busting by
South African companies, the DA said on Sunday.
The questions of letters of support
issued by officials to companies trying to sell equipment abroad made
the DTI vulnerable to corruption, said Democratic Alliance MP David
Maynier.
The DTI should be obliged to notify the
National Conventional Arms Control Committee of the export of any
suspected "dual use goods" to countries under sanctions, he
said.
The Sunday Times reported that
government officials had "placed South Africa at risk" of
breaking United Nations sanctions.
An audit report found this had occurred
when officials issued letters of support to a company trying to sell
helicopters to Iran.
Irregularities were found in how the
DTI letters were issued. The report recommended disciplinary action
against the officials involved.
The DTI said in March that it was
investigating the provision of these letters of support.
In a statement on Sunday, Maynier said
the DA would write a letter to Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies
to extend the investigation into letters of support provided to
private companies between 2009 and 2012.
The DA would also ask the DTI to
develop a policy on how it monitors deals with countries under
sanctions, especially arms embargoes by the United Nations.
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