‘Made in Emirates’… Or made in SA? Whistleblower Exposes Armoured Vehicle Scandal

A major whistleblower leak has revealed that armoured vehicles sold across Africa under a flashy “Made in Emirates” badge were in fact designed in South Africa and built by South African staff. According to documents obtained by Open Secrets, the UAE-based factory relied on expertise and exported parts from Cape Town’s Integrated Convoy Protection (ICP). Whether these exports were legally authorised is now the subject of a police investigation, made more urgent by the UAE’s controversial involvement in conflict zones such as Sudan. The exposé comes after ICP secured a three-week High Court gag order to silence the story an order that has now lapsed. Phemelo speaks to Michael Marchant, Head of Investigations at Open Secrets, on what this explosive dossier reveals.