On 3 June 2021, the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) and Open Secrets launched an urgent two-part application in the North Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) seeking:
- The names of all permit holders that are authorised to export arms to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), so that they can be joined to the proceedings. This information is not public knowledge.
- A judicial review of the decisions by the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) to authorise arms exports to Saudi Arabia and the UAE despite their active role in the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen and allegations of committing war crimes.
Since 2017, the UN expert group on Yemen and other civil society reports have accused Saudi Arabia and the UAE of violating international human rights law and international humanitarian law. Since the outbreak of the conflict in Yemen, South Africa has exported arms to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The engagement of both these countries has escalated the conflict in Yemen and lead to the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Atilla Kisla, Legal Consultant at SALC, emphasised that:
“While the South African government expressed concern about international law violations in Yemen by all parties, it remains permitting arms exports to states accused of committing war crimes in Yemen. Economic interests cannot outweigh humanitarian concerns.”
The South African government has thus far failed to halt the export of arms despite well documented violations of international law and a rising trend of states suspending arms exports to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The continuation of exporting arms to Saudi Arabia and the UAE suggests an erroneous decision-making process. Given the serious accusations and evidence of violations of international law, the application by SALC and Open Secrets questions whether the NCACC seriously considered Saudi Arabia’s and the UAE’s engagement in the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Michael Marchant, Head of Investigations at Open Secrets, pointed out that:
“It is unconscionable that South African companies are permitted to supply weapons of war to militaries that have systematically engaged in conduct that targets civilians and violates the rights of the people of Yemen.”
SALC and Open Secrets submit that by granting export permits, the responsible state entity (the NCACC) did not adhere to the criteria and principles set out in the National Conventional Arms Control Act (NCAC Act). In terms of the NCAC Act, the NCACC must avoid transfers of arms to governments that systematically violate or suppress human rights and fundamental freedoms; and transfers of arms that are likely to contribute to the escalation of regional military conflicts. Wayne Ncube, Director of Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR), stated that:
“In light of South Africa’s history of international crimes during apartheid, this matter is of high importance for the South African public. The State has a clear obligation to ensure that we do not contribute to war crimes outside our borders.”
Background to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen:
The UN describes the current situation in Yemen as the world’s worst contemporary humanitarian crisis. Since the beginning of the conflict in 2014, approximately 112,000 people have died due to hostilities. 12,000 of those people were civilians. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are the primary external parties to the armed conflict.
According to the latest report by the UN Group of Experts on Yemen (Expert Group), there are ‘reasonable grounds’ to believe that the Governments of Saudi Arabia and the UAE are responsible for human rights violations and that ‘parties to the armed conflict in Yemen have committed a substantial number of violations of international humanitarian law’. Some of these violations qualify as international crimes. Based on the gravity and seriousness of the alleged crimes, the Expert Group called upon the UN Security Council to refer the situation to the ICC for further investigation. The Expert Group further called upon states to halt such exports to any party of the conflict in Yemen.
In 2018, 2019, and 2020, up to 33% of South Africa’s arms exports were delivered to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. While the South African government has expressed serious concern about the humanitarian crisis in Yemen in multiple UN Security Council meetings, it has not indicated a suspension of exports to the two countries in question.
Our Submissions:
The application focuses on decisions by the NCACC to grant permits enabling the export of arms to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The applicants in this matter argue that decisions by the NCACC constitute administrative decisions that must be reviewed and set aside. Under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, a court can review and set aside an administrative decision, if that decision itself is unlawful or unconstitutional. In addition, a court can review and set aside an administrative decision, that did not take all relevant factors into account at the time that decision is made. Any administrative decision must further be rational. Section 15 of the National Conventional Arms Control Act (NCAC Act) further specifies that the NCACC must:
- avoid transfers of arms to governments that systematically violate or suppress human rights and fundamental freedoms;
- avoid transfers of arms that are likely to contribute to the escalation of regional military conflicts;
- adhere to international law, norms and practices and the international obligations of South Africa
With respect to section 15(d) and (e) of the NCAC Act and publicly available evidence, the applicants submit that decisions to grant permits were unlawful and/or unconstitutional. By allowing arms exports to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the NCACC has not acted in accordance with the NCAC Act. The applicants further submit that the NCACC, when making decisions permitting exports has not considered the UN expert report and other reports that accuse Saudi Arabia and the UAE of violating international law. On this basis, the applicants argue that the administrative decision is unlawful. In case that the NCACC has considered relevant information such as the UN expert report, the applicants submit that such a decision is irrational, which makes it unlawful.
SALC is represented by Adv Bonita Meyersfeld, Adv Makhotso Lengane and Lawyers for Human Rights.
Open Secrets is represented by Adv Geoff Budlender SC, Adv Buhle Lekokotla and Power Singh Inc Attorneys.
News Releases
21 January 2022 Civil society organisations welcome directive to avoid further delays in arms trade case
7 June 2021 – Joint Statement: ‘We stand with the people of Yemen’ Human rights organisations ask the courts to review decisions to export arms to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
Case in the News
4 December 2023 – South African arms exports: Creating a practice of double standards?
22 Feb 2022- Dr. Atilla Kisla had a radio interview with Radio 786.
17 June 2021 – Atilla Kisla had a radio interview with CapeTalk.
13 June 2021 – Wayne Ncube interviewed by ENCA.
7 June 2021 – Atilla Kisla’s opinion piece Back to old habits? South African arms exports to Saudi Arabia and the UAE
31 August 2021 – Webinar on arms transfers
