SOUTH Africa is selling sensitive weapon equipment to countries that fail to meet criteria for the export of arms, the Ceasefire Campaign said yesterday.

SOUTH Africa is selling sensitive weapon equipment to countries that fail to meet criteria for the export of arms, the Ceasefire Campaign said yesterday.

Five of SA's top 10 arms purchasers - India, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Colombia and Saudi Arabia - do not satisfy the criteria of the National Conventional Arms Control Act, Ceasefire Campaign steering committee member Rob Thompson said at a media conference in Johannesburg.

The criteria in the act includes if the countries have embargoes against them, if they are violating human rights, if they are involved in regional conflicts and what type of export controls they have.

According to the Ceasefire's database, between 2000 and 2009 SA had sold weapon equipment to 58 countries that failed on at least one of the criteria.

Of the R13,2billion of arms sold to the countries 60percent comprised of sensitive weapons, Thompson said. - Sapa