The Anglican Diocese of Cape Town has called for an immediate and total prohibition on exports of South African armaments and on the services of mercenaries.

A motion passed last week at the Diocese's Synod in Cape Town also called on the government to disband parastatal armaments companies such as Armscor and Denel.

The resolution, which was unanimously adopted, asked for the curtailment of weapons within South Africa, and the restriction of both legal and illegal private ownership of weapons.

In a lengthy resolution on demilitarisation and the arms trade, President Nelson Mandela was rapped on the knuckles for his refusal to sign the Nobel Peace Laureates' International Code of Conduct on Arms Transfers. A number of speakers said a strong message needed to go to the government on the arms trade and demilitarisation.

In an interview after the resolution was passed, the Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Revd Njongonkulu Ndungane, said that in representations he had made to government during the course of the year, he had emphasised the importance of converting South Africa's ability to manufacture military weapons to peaceful purposes. In this way, resources, both human and material, could continue to be utilised to improve the quality of life for all.

The Synod also called for a drastic reduction of the number of personnel in the SANDF and for a reliance on a well-trained, effective and respected civilian police service to protect law and order and South Africa's national sovereignty.

The government was urged to promote human rights throughout the world, thus reflecting its commitment and dedication to a culture of human rights and democracy within South Africa.