Probe launched into S A’s alleged arms deal with Iran

An investigation has been launched into South Africa’s alleged arms deal with Iran, authorities said on Thursday.The investigation is targeting individuals and companies mentioned by the Sunday Times recent report, said Vanessa du Toit, director of the SA National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC). “We have already started investigations against the companies mentioned and individuals mentioned. We will report back to NCACC should we find any contravention of the NCACA (National Conventional Arms Control Act),”Du Toit told Parliament’s joint standing committee on defense.The Sunday Times report alleged that South Africa had been exporting attack helicopters to Iran through an elaborate set of front companies. The deal allegedly involved a Canadian company, Eagle Copters, which would buy 1979 Bell 212 helicopters from Hudson Flight LLC in Texas, the U. S. and then sell the helicopters to a Johannesburg registered front company called Gemini Moon 477. The helicopters would finally reach Iran and would be used in military attack operations, according to the report.Also on Thursday, Justice Minister Jeff Radebe reiterated that South Africa did not allow any exports of “equipment” to Iran. “We do not authorize any equipment to Iran because in the main there are United Nations Security Council sanctions against Iran, so we do not do that as a matter of course,” he told the committee.