South Africa halts delivery of artillery shells to Poland over concerns they could be sent to Ukraine

By richardbrown // 2024-08-30

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South Africa has withheld the delivery of 155mm artillery shells to Poland, citing concerns that the munitions might be diverted to Ukraine. Ezra Jele, head of the secretariat of the South African government body overseeing arms contracts, revealed that after two years of uncertainty, Poland has now canceled the contract. In early 2022, in response to Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, Poland, along with several non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries, placed an order for 55,000 Assegai 155mm artillery shells from Denel Munition, a South African arms manufacturer and subsidiary of German arms giant Rheinmetall. (Related: Poland preparing military for World War III, NATO reveals.) Jan-Patrick Helmsen, managing director of Denel Munition, expressed pride in the deal at the time, noting NATO's continued trust in their globally recognized technology. However, by late 2022, South Africa's National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) halted the contract's fulfillment. While export permits to Poland and other countries were not outright canceled, they were indefinitely suspended without a clear resolution timeline, as Jele stated. The deal, valued at approximately 190 million Polish zloty ($49.29 million), was Poland's second-largest arms purchase from South Africa, with the United Arab Emirates placing the largest order. The NCACC also partially suspended arms exports to Turkey and Saudi Arabia around the same period. In 2023, Jele explained to the South African parliamentary defense committee that the suspension was due to concerns that the weapons could be redirected to Ukraine. He highlighted that the NCACC takes into account various factors when deciding on arms permits, including arms embargoes, human rights issues, regional stability, and the risk of weapon redirection, alongside South Africa’s national interests.

South Africa's decision may be influenced by its close ties to Russia

This decision is also set against a broader geopolitical backdrop. In April 2023, South Africa’s then minister of international relations and cooperation, Naledi Pandor, hosted Russian Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov in Pretoria. Around the same time, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) reaffirmed its ties with Russia, describing Putin’s United Russia party as a “longtime ally and friend of the ANC.” The ANC’s financial difficulties, especially during the lead-up to parliamentary and presidential elections, further complicated the situation. At the beginning of 2023, the ANC struggled with funding issues, even facing challenges in organizing a pre-election congress. Subsequently, the party received nearly a million dollars from Viktor Vekselberg’s United Manganese of Kalahari, a Russian mining company sanctioned by the United States. This donation led to the opposition's criticism of the ANC’s neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict and its reluctance to condemn Russia’s offensive. Despite losing its long-held majority in the latest general election in May, the ANC maintained control over key government roles, including foreign affairs and defense, preserving its pro-Russian position.

Poland seeks to produce its own artillery ammunition rather than rely on foreign suppliers

On Aug. 21, Polish publication Rzeczpospolita reported that Poland is seeking to produce its own artillery ammunition. Poland is now pursuing local production and signed a $2.75 billion deal in December 2023 with the PGZ-Amunicja consortium for nearly 300,000 155mm shells, with deliveries scheduled from 2024 to 2029. This contract aims to boost domestic production capabilities and support both local and export needs. Jele had previously indicated that a permit for Poland, worth 893 million South African rand ($50.32 million), was on hold, though he did not specify the reason. Defense analyst Darren Olivier criticized the indefinite hold as effectively a denial, arguing that it is contrary to the spirit of the law, which should either approve or deny permits within a reasonable timeframe. The NCACC has also put some permits to Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the U.A.E. on hold, causing frustration and financial losses for South Africa’s defense industry. Watch this video from Poland of Western military aid traveling through the country on its way to Ukraine. This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.

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South Africa's decision may be influenced by its close ties to Russia

Poland seeks to produce its own artillery ammunition rather than rely on foreign suppliers

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