Pictures emerged showing the president unveiling a plaque bearing his name at an arms facility.

PRETORIA - The Presidency has confirmed that President Jacob Zuma did in fact visit an arms manufacturing facility on his state visit to Saudi Arabia last month, but has not explained why this was not disclosed at the time.

Pictures emerged this week on the World Defense website, showing the president unveiling a plaque bearing his name at a facility operated by Rheinmetall Denel Munitions, of which South African state-owned arms manufacturer Denel has a 49% stake.

It's reported that the facility will produce mortars, artillery shells and bombs.

Zuma was accompanied on the state visit by the ministers of police and state security.

The Presidency says the visit sought to promote South Africa's defence military industry and strengthen areas of co-operation in the field of defence.

However, this information was absent from the detailed statement issued by the Presidency after the state visit two weeks ago, but it's not clear why.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says its writing to the minister of defence to seek clarity on the country's partnership with Saudi Arabia, saying that the secrecy surrounding this visit is reminiscent of the controversial 1999 arms deal.