Social Media was abuzz this week with reports that something strange happened outside the Rheinmetall factory in Boksburg, when a white man handcuffed himself to a fence and demanded an end to arms shipments from South Africa to Israel and Ukraine.
In South Africa, German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall produces artillery shells and has issued an official statement that it supplies its products to Ukraine and Israel.
In response, several parties in the country, nongovernmental organizations, activists and experts demanded that the country’s President and Government at a minimum check the activities of the Rheinmetall factory for compliance with South Africa’s official policy not to intervene in international conflicts and not to supply arms to third countries.
At the most, activists campaigned and urged the state to stop the activities of the ammunition factory.
For Parker, the aim of the picket was to call for a total stopping of arms shipments from South Africa to Ukraine and Israel.
To also draw public attention to possible illegal activities of the plant, and to obtain an official response from the management of Rheinmetall about their alleged cooperation with Ukraine and Israel.
At 12pm on Tuesday news broke that a white Pretoria resident James Parker (36) handcuffed himself to the fence of the Rheinmetall factory with a placard reading “I will not leave, and I will not eat until you answer whether you are supplying arms to Israel and Ukraine”.
Pictures on Social media showed the protester wearing a T-shirt with the front displaying a crossed-out rocket and the words “Rheinmetall, Ukraine, Israel – KILLERS”. On the back was a portrait of Mandela and the inscription “Russia and Palestine – the people of South Africa are with you.”
At around 2pm on Tuesday, three men passing by tried to assist Parker, and were arrested together with him. He was released from police holding cells in Boksburg in the evening on Tuesday, and the defiant Parker returned to Rheinmetall to continue the hunger strike.
On Wednesday, a man in the neighborhood was captured on video and brought a chair, an umbrella, water, and food to the protester.
Following intense efforts and persuasions to leave by residents including his wife for him to move away from the fence and into a tent they have brought and promised to rally for more support against the company. Parker agreed and stayed overnight in the tent with his wife.
A tent was placed outside the factory with a placard “I will not eat until you answer whether you are supplying weapons to Israel and Ukraine”.
Parker, who vowed to stay outside the premises of the weapons Manufacturer Rheinmetall finally left the place without obtaining an official response from the management of Rheinmetall about their cooperation with Ukraine and Israel.
Speaking to the media, the Pretoria man said: “I witnessed first hand brutality of the company, instead of giving me food, I was sent to the police holding cell here in Boksburg. I am leaving today (Thursday) without any answers from Rheinmetall company on whether they are directly or indirectly selling arms to Ukraine, and Israel,” he said.
“I will continue to urge peace loving South Africans to call for the closure of this arms company in order to save the lives of innocent children in Palestine, and Russia.
Parker gave officials of Rheinmentall a hand written statement of demands, and said he hope some day, government including Parliament will follow up on his demands to hold Rheinmetal accountable.
Who is James Parker? Is a 36-year old, is a South African from Pretoria who said he is deeply passionate about politics and dedicated to protecting the interest of “humanity”.
He lost his parents many years ago and now lives with his wife and daughter. Currently unemployed and his family depends on government SASSA grants to meet their basic needs, including food.
Despite the challenges he faces, his commitment to social issues and improving life in his community remains strong.
However, EFF MP Carl Niehaus said multiple reports support the allegations, further stating that the investigation in Europe revealed Rheinmetall’s use of South African plants to bypass German export controls, supplying munitions to states with poor human rights records, including Israel.
The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre noted Rheinmetall’s failure to respond to UN experts’ calls to cease arms transfers to Israel, risking complicity in genocide.
In 2023, South African arms companies exported R3.3 billion in arms to countries supplying Israel, including the US, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and France.
Germany, Israel’s second-largest arms supplier, imported R1.7 billion in South African bombs, shells, and military technology.
“Allowing Rheinmetall to supply munitions to Israel and Ukraine contradicts our vision of promoting a rules-based international order,” Niehaus said.
A December 2023 press release detailed a significant artillery ammunition order for Ukraine, with RDM’s output contributing to a target of 700,000 rounds annually by 2024.
Since July 2024, Rheinmetall has increased its capacity from 100,000 to 150,000 shells annually, operating 24-hour shifts across its South African facilities. “Rheinmetall operates warehouses in Germany and Hungary, from which it re-exports South African manufactured shells to Israel and Ukraine.
