South Africa faces tough questions after its tech surfaces in Russia’s war machines

The government of South Africa has launched an investigation into how locally manufactured electronic components were discovered in Russian drones used in attacks against Ukraine, a revelation that risks complicating Pretoria’s delicate diplomatic balance between Moscow and the West.

According to Bloomberg, the component in question is a laser range finder produced by Lightware Optoelectronics Ltd., a company based near Pretoria that specializes in precision measurement tools.

The device, while designed for civilian applications such as surveying and robotics, was reportedly found inside Russian drones recovered by Ukrainian forces. Kyiv’s special envoy for sanctions, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, revealed on social media that the equipment could be used to calculate distances and trigger detonations.

The company blamed what it described as “unscrupulous purchasers” who may have re-exported or repurposed the equipment without authorization. “We do not sell or design products for military use,” Lightware said, emphasizing that it adheres to international export compliance laws.

However, the incident has drawn the attention of South Africa’s National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC), the body responsible for monitoring and approving arms exports.

Acting NCACC director Sipho Mashaba confirmed that Lightware is not registered to trade in munitions or dual-use technologies which are goods that can be used for both civilian and military purposes. “This matter will be referred to inspectors who will visit the entity’s premises to establish the scope of their business as well as the application,” Mashaba said in an official response.

The development comes at a sensitive moment for South Africa’s foreign policy. Pretoria has sought to maintain strong economic and political ties with Russia, particularly under the BRICS alliance, even as it faces mounting Western pressure over its perceived neutrality in the Ukraine war.

The discovery of South African-made components in Russian weaponry could inflame tensions with Western partners, who already question Pretoria’s non-aligned stance.

Analysts warn that if the probe confirms that South African technology indirectly supported Moscow’s military campaign, it could undermine President Cyril Ramaphosa’s efforts to portray his government as a neutral peace broker.

It might also invite renewed scrutiny from the U.S. and European Union, both of which have previously cautioned African nations against enabling sanctions evasion or the re-export of restricted goods.

The investigation’s findings could therefore test South Africa’s balancing act between its BRICS commitments and its broader international obligations, a challenge that continues to define its role in the shifting global order.