South African sales of military equipment to certain countries placed moral question marks on the government's commitments to international and regional peace and security, the Democratic Alliance said.

"This does not bode well for the leadership role South Africa is to play in the African Union," DA spokesman Roy Jankielsohn said in a statement.

Referring to export statistics on the sale of South African conventional arms for 2000/2001, he said the report itself was not adequate, as it only provided information regarding categories of arms exported.

The types and quantities of conventional arms were not in the public domain and would "most probably be restricted" by the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC).

"The current report however is informative in respect of arms sales to countries such as India, Pakistan, Rwanda and Zimbabwe," he said.

"Almost 37 percent of the category-A weapons for 2000 were sold to India and Pakistan." Also of great concern were the sales to Rwanda and Zimbabwe. Rwanda was directly involved in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which South Africa was trying desperately to resolve.

"Although the sales to Zimbabwe are categorised as non-lethal equipment it could include things such as riot control and pyrotechnical products.

"These products are generally used for maintaining law and order and could be used to subjugate the citizens of a country. Zimbabwe is characterised by its bad human rights record and this equipment could be used against its own citizens," Jankielsohn said.

"The sale of equipment to countries such as Pakistan and India, who are in a near state of war, and to countries such as Rwanda and Zimbabwe, place moral question marks on the ANC government's commitments to international and regional peace and security."

Category-A weapons are listed as "Sensitive Major Significant Equipment" and includes implements of war such as explosives, large calibre arms and automatic weapons, guns and missiles, bombs and grenades, tanks, fighter aircraft, attack helicopters and naval vessels.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and Business Day.