The Democratic Alliance (DA) called on Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota yesterday to start a parallel probe into allegations that state procurement agency Armscor sold missile technology illegally to Chile.

Investigators and Armscor were cautious about commenting yesterday. Specialised commercial crime unit head Chris Jordaan confirmed the raid on Armscor last week.

It is not clear what Chile may have bought. Neither the Chilean embassy nor the National Conventional Arms Control Committee was available for comment.

If it was missile technology, as reported, its export would have fallen foul of the committee's export-control regime, unless permits were issued.

If the technology involved surface-to-surface missile systems, or remotely or automatically piloted unmanned aircraft, it could also bring SA into conflict with the Missile Technology Control Regime, which regulates international proliferation of the technology. That could endanger international defence co-operation with SA, and prompt the US to reimpose an arms embargo.

Jordaan confirmed computer software and documents belonging to Armscor and some staff were seized. The probe was at a delicate stage, and releasing more information could jeopardise it.

The Afrikaans daily Beeld reported yesterday that detectives evidently seized cellphones and computers from homes of several Armscor and defence force officials in raids last Tuesday.

The raids were kept secret until Sunday, with only justice officials and top Armscor management in the know, the paper said.

The DA said the investigation, along with recent reports of break-ins at arms maker Denel and its missile section, Kentron, showed all was not well in SA's defence industry.

The party said Lekota's investigation of allegations should run concurrently with criminal investigations being conducted. A departmental probe would establish the facts on aspects not covered by a criminal investigation.

With acknowledgements to Bonile Ngqiyaza, Sapa and Business Day.