The South African government has said that it cannot interfere with a shipment of arms from China to Zimbabwe that is currently docked in Durban, according to a report from BuaNews, via AllAfrica.com:
According to media reports the Chinese ship, An Yue Jiang, was carrying three million rounds of ammunition for AK-47 assault rifles and small arms, 3500 mortars and mortar tubes as well as 1500 rocket propelled grenades.
The ship which is currently docked at the Durban harbour is reported to have entered the port without clearance and is currently docked at the outer anchorage.
Besides the transport permit issued by the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC), a clearance permit from the explosives department of the police is still needed before the shipment can be released.
The arms shipment has sparked a political outcry with parties calling on the government to block the consignment allegedly bound for Zimbabwe’s army.
See also a report from South Africa’s Independent Online.
