The Sunday Independent Newspaper reported that a leaked United States state department document showed that South Africa was used as a trans-shipment point for riot control equipment, including grenades, rubber bullets and teargas.
The cable originated from the US embassy in Madagascar. It claimed that the Chinese-manufactured part of the arsenal was unloaded in South Africa and collected by then President Marc Ravalomanana's private jet. The arrangement enabled him to bypass customs.
From South Africa, the weapons went to parts of the army loyal to the ex-president in his home country.
According to the leaked document, security forces had not received proper training on the use of the equipment.
"It is doubtful the security forces properly understand how to effectively use rubber bullets in a crowd control situation," it was noted in the document.
"Ill-trained units would no doubt continue to fire their weapons towards the upper body portion of crowds increasing the risk of head shots with lethal consequences."
Ravalomanana has lived in exile in South Africa since he was ousted by a popularly supported military coup in 2009.
Madagascar's current leader Andry Rajoelina has accused his ousted rival of corruption.
The Sunday Independent reported that, according to the document, South Africa's National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) failed to stop or supervise the movement of the weapons.
"For between a year and 18 months [following Jacob Zuma's election as president] the oversight body was in serial dereliction of its legislative mandate to meet monthly to scrutinise planned weapons transfers."
Individual officials apparently signed off deals without securing the committee's approval.
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