A South African state explosives company could find itself in the dock over damning allegations that it is manufacturing and exporting landmines to African and European countries in contravention of international conventions.

Following an inquiry by British activists, Economists Allied for Arms Reduction said this week that PW Defence, a British company that wanted to buy a stake in Denel, had licensed its South African interest, Swartklip Products, to manufacture landmines. Swartklip Products is a division of the state arms manufacturer Denel.

The group told parliament that PW Defence has been "actively marketing anti-personnel landmines" in contravention of the Ottawa Convention which bans the use of anti-personnel landmines.

"Swartklip is now exporting them via Durban to countries like Italy and Malaysia. They are apparently also trucked to Johannesburg, from where they are presumably exported to countries such as Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo," the advocacy group claimed on Thursday.

It counts among its patrons Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane and human rights activist Rhoda Kadalie.

PW Defence has already denied the allegations. Denel spokesmperson Thembi Tulwana said the submission contained "significant errors of fact".

Tulwana said the proposed equity transaction between Denel and PW Defence "fell through" after PW Defence's withdrawal.

"None of Denel's divisions, including Swartklip Products, has been licensed or contracted to manufacture hand grenades or landmines for PW Defence. Denel has not exported hand grenades or landmines to countries such as Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo," said Tulwana.

Denel's exports of military equipment "are regulated within the framework of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee".

When South Africa signed the Ottawa Convention on Landmines in 1997, then president Nelson Mandela also cancelled the debts of Mozambique and Angola, countries most affected by the landmines in the region.

The UN has spent millions of rands in Southern Africa in its campaign against landmines.

There are an estimated two million landmines in Mozambique, and between 12 and 15 million in Angola.

The department of defence has already tabled the Anti-Personnel Mines Prohibition Bill in Parliament to enact the provisions of the Ottawa Convention on landmines. The Portfolio Committee on Defence is holding public hearings soon.

With acknowledgements to Thami Ngidi and The Mercury.