Helicopters remain in SA, minister to pay costs

The legal battle commenced when the news broke in January that the South African National Defence Force had donated its fleet of unused Alouette helicopters to the Zimbabwean army. Minorities pressure group AfriForum approached the North Gauteng High Court to obtain an urgent interdict against the delivery of the helicopters.News regarding the donation broke at a time when serious concerns were surfacing regarding Zimbabwe's human rights record.

In terms of applicable South African legislation and the constitution, the state or any other person may not export arms or military equipment to another country without a proper permit that may only be granted if the National Conventional Arms Control Committee was satisfied that the human rights record of the receiver was acceptable.This never happened and AfriForum is now applying to have the decisions of the South African National Defence Force reversed.