Manufacturing torture? South Africa's trade in electric shock equipment

This policy brief by the Omega Research Foundation, published by the Institute for Security Studies in June 2016, examines the manufacture and trade of electric shock devices in South Africa. It argues that a lack of trade controls on these devices—including stun belts, shields, and batons—facilitates torture and ill-treatment, contradicting South Africa's constitutional and international human rights obligations. The document details the activities of South African companies exporting these devices globally and recommends a comprehensive ban on body-worn and hand-held direct contact electric shock equipment.

• South Africa is the only known manufacturer of electric shock devices for law enforcement within Africa. Johannesburg-based Force Products produces stun belts, stun shields, stun guns, and stun batons, supplying the South African Department of Correctional Services and exporting to international markets since 1991.
• Electric shock equipment is associated with severe human rights abuses in South Africa, including torture and the extraction of confessions in prisons and police cells. Body-worn devices like stun belts are specifically highlighted for causing profound mental suffering and humiliation, even when not activated.
• The use of electric shock devices poses significant medical risks, particularly for individuals with congenital heart defects, epilepsy, or those using psychotropic medication, potentially leading to heart attacks or ventricular fibrillation. Other physical effects include burns, welts, and secondary injuries from falling.
• South Africa lacks trade controls for electric shock devices, creating a legislative gap compared to its controls on firearms and military equipment. This is viewed as a failure to adhere to the country's own constitutional Bill of Rights and international commitments, such as the 1987 UN Convention against Torture.
• Other jurisdictions have implemented stricter controls: the European Union prohibits the import and export of body-worn electric shock equipment under the 'Torture Regulation' (Council Regulation 1236/2005), and the United States regulates such devices through the Export Administration Act of 1979.
• The brief recommends that South Africa prohibit the import and export of body-worn electric shock devices and hand-held direct contact devices (stun shields, batons, and guns). It further suggests that wired projectile shock weapons be regulated as firearms and that a targeted end-use control mechanism be established to prevent transfers that contribute to internal repression.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (n.d.). Manufacturing torture? South Africa's trade in electric shock equipment. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PolicyBrief84.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. Manufacturing torture? South Africa's trade in electric shock equipment. n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PolicyBrief84.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=Manufacturing torture? South Africa's trade in electric shock equipment |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PolicyBrief84.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudiesndmanufacturing, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{Manufacturing torture? South Africa's trade in electric shock equipment}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PolicyBrief84.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }