Spokesperson Ricky Bhikraj said the Chinese vessel had entered the port
without clearance and had currently docked at the outer anchorage.
The ship – called ‘An Yue Jiang’ – is suspected of carrying a consignment of
arms allegedly headed for Zimbabwe.
A Port side police source told Sapa the ship was carrying arms and had
docked at the harbour on April 14.
He said there were rumours that it was to deliver arms to Zimbabwe.
Bhikraj confirmed that a vessel by that name had entered the Port of Durban.
“We can confirm that there is an uncleared vessel (not cleared to enter
port) by that name currently at the outer anchorage. The allegations are
being handled by the various national security authorities,” he said.
Nesweek editor Martin Welz earlier told Sapa: “The cargo ship was openly
delivering a containment of arms for Zimbabwe.”
Asked where he had obtained the information from, Welz said it was his own
business.
Bhikraj, meanwhile, said the vessel had to follow procedures.
“There is a normal process for all ISPS (International Ship and Ports
Security) vessels to be cleared to enter the port. He said this vessel would
now have to go through that process and that it could take quite some time
before it is cleared.
He said if the vessel was not cleared, it would not be allowed to enter a
South African port.
Asked whether there had been arms on the ship, Bhikraj said: “We can’t
comment on the whether arms were or were not on the vessel”
Dennis Abrio of the national branch of the South African Police Service said
they would comment on the matter once they had details.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Superintendent Vincent Mdunge said he
could not comment on the matter.
Post published in: News