South Africa is once again under international scrutiny after reports surfaced that four Aérospatiale Gazelle light helicopters exported from the country have ended up in Libya, allegedly violating the United Nations (UN) arms embargo on the North African nation.
The aircraft, reportedly linked to General Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA), were exported under civilian registration, raising serious questions about the country’s arms control enforcement and its growing reputation as a hub for controversial weapons transfers.
According to DefenceWeb, the helicopters, originally military variants used by the British and French armies were “demilitarised,” imported into South Africa, and re-registered as civilian aircraft.
Their South African registration numbers, including ZU-R00 and ZU-RZR, allowed them to skirt the stringent oversight of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC), which regulates military exports.
The aircraft were reportedly cleared for Jordan but diverted mid-route to Benghazi, the LNA’s stronghold, following a refuelling stop in Nairobi, Kenya. Flight records indicate that at least one Belarusian-operated Ilyushin Il-76 cargo plane, managed by TransAvia Export Airlines, was involved in the transfers.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament Chris Hattingh has demanded answers from Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who oversees the NCACC.
Hattingh argued that since the helicopters were “originally designed for military use,” their export should have been subject to full arms control scrutiny.
“Clearing the aircraft for Jordan, only for them to appear in Libya, constitutes a clear diversion,” he said, stressing that the law was designed precisely to prevent such outcomes.
A Pattern of Controversial Arms Deals
This latest revelation follows a series of troubling incidents linking South Africa’s defence industry to questionable arms transactions.
In an earlier publication, Business Insider Africa reported that South African-manufactured components were found in Russian drones deployed in the war against Ukraine.
The disclosure reignited global concern over Pretoria’s enforcement of export controls, particularly amid growing pressure from Western governments to uphold sanctions and maintain neutrality.
Military Africa reports that the loophole exploited in this case hinges on the civilian registration of former military assets, allowing exporters to bypass the End-User Certificate (EUC) verification process.
In response, the Department of Transport has announced a review of all Il-76 flights this year to determine whether other assets were similarly exported.
As the UN Security Council renewed its Libya arms embargo in May 2025, and France reiterated calls for “full compliance” on October 14, South Africa’s reputation as a responsible arms exporter is once again under strain, caught between economic interests, political opacity, and the international community’s growing impatience with its repeated lapses.
