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South African Nuclear History

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Southern Africa

South Africa

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North America

United States

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Middle East

Israel

Nuclear Proliferation

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Malan, Magnus

1930- 2011

Soviet soldier taking a photograph of another soldier in Red Square, Moscow, 1959

Eastern Europe

Soviet Union

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Western Europe

Great Britain

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Western Europe

France

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Reagan, Ronald

1911- 2004

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Botha, P. W. (Pieter Willem)

1916- 2006

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Vorster, B. J. (Balthazar Johannes)

1915- 1983

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Philip, Peter H.

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Sole, Donald Bell

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Israeli Nuclear History

Brazilian Nuclear History

Pakistani Nuclear History

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August 26, 1977	Cable, South African Department of Foreign Affairs, 'South Africa: Nuclear Bomb Charges' South African department of Foreign Affairs cable to its embassies addressing the Soviet charge that South Africa is on the precipice of developing a nuclear bomb. The message states that South Africa has no intentions of developing a weapon, that the Kalahari facility is not being used to test explosives, and that “there will not be any nuclear explosive testing of any kind in South Africa.” Attached is a copy of the Prime Ministers’ 24 August 1977 speech in Cape Town.
August 19, 1977	Letter, US Secretary of State Vance to South African Foreign Minister Botha US Secretary of State Cyrus Vance explains the evidence which lead the US to suspect that South Africa was developing nuclear weapons and developing a testing site in the Kalahari Desert.
August 18, 1977	South African Ambassador to France, 'Unofficial Translation of French Aide-Memoire' Statement from the French embassy in South Africa reaffirming their position that South Africa not pursue a nuclear weapon. Specifically, France sought a clear statement from the South African government that they not "endow [themselves] with means of proceeding with nuclear explosions” or risk continued French-South African cooperation in several areas.
August 18, 1977	Letter, US Ambassador Bowlder to South African Foreign Minister Botha Message from U.S. Ambassador Bowdler to the South African Minister of Foreign Affairs Botha in which President Carter’s warning that the detonation of a South African nuclear device would have “most serious consequences” for U.S.-South African relations was conveyed.
June 2, 1976	Reply, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, 'Sale of Two Nuclear Plants to South Africa' French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean Sauvagnargues, responds to an inquiry from the National Assembly regarding France's sale of two pressurized-water reactors to South Africa.
June 30, 1975	Meeting Minutes Regarding ISSA (Israel-South Africa Agreement) Minutes from the third ISSA meeting between representatives of the Israeli and South African governments, including Minsters Botha and Peres. Missile delivery systems and other military equipment are discussed.
April 3, 1975	Israel-South Africa Agreement (ISSA) Agreement between the South African and Israeli Ministers of Defense that outlines the two nations’ cooperation on nuclear issues.
March 1975	Memorandum, Lt-General Raymond Fullarton Armstrong, US Department of Defense, Israel-South Africa A memorandum written by Chief of the Defense Staff Lt-General Raymond Fullarton Armstrong describes South Africa's nuclear weapons systems needs and outlines the rationale for having a nuclear deterrent.
November 19, 1971	South African Nuclear Fuel Agreement U.S. State Department memorandum weighing the arguments for and against renewing the agreement to sell uranium enrichment services to South Africa. The political fallout from engaging with the South African apartheid regime coupled with the fact that they had not signed the NPT were closely considered.
July 20, 1970	South African Department of Foreign Affairs, Announcement by South African Prime Minister Vorster Announcement by South African Prime Minister Vorster outlines the country’s approach to marketing and selling enriched uranium. He describes a unique process by which South African scientists can create a highly enriched “uranium concentrate.”