the rollback of south africa's biological warfare program
the rollback of south africa's biological warfare program
the rollback of south africa's biological warfare program
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Malan, and <strong>the</strong> Minister <strong>of</strong> Finance, Barend du Plessis, approved <strong>the</strong><br />
Program. 46 Nieuwoudt made Dr. Wouter Basson <strong>the</strong> Project Coast director, as<br />
well as specialist adviser to <strong>the</strong> Surgeon General. Basson also became a<br />
lieutenant colonel, joined <strong>the</strong> 7 th SAMS Battalion, and began making trips to<br />
Angola with <strong>the</strong> SADF. In addition, he continued making trips abroad to make<br />
contacts with scientists and to procure supplies for Project Coast.<br />
In August 1981, <strong>the</strong> SADF launched Operation Protea in Angola. During<br />
<strong>the</strong> operation, evidence was discovered that <strong>the</strong> Cubans might be preparing for<br />
chemical <strong>warfare</strong>. 47 Although <strong>the</strong> evidence was sketchy, top SADF generals<br />
chose to take action to counter CBW anyway. Defense Minister Malan took<br />
SADF generals to Angola to examine CBW protective suits and demonstrate<br />
problems that <strong>the</strong>y created during combat. Afterwards, Malan reiterated his<br />
proposal that <strong>the</strong> SADF take measures that would force <strong>the</strong> Cubans ra<strong>the</strong>r than<br />
<strong>the</strong> South Africans to don suits. Accordingly, <strong>the</strong> SADF developed a strategy<br />
<strong>of</strong> deception, by firing “smoke” that would achieve such a result. In addition,<br />
Malan proposed that <strong>the</strong> CBW <strong>program</strong> be developed to counteract <strong>the</strong> ANC<br />
and its military wing, Umkhonto we sizwe (MK), which was in <strong>the</strong> process <strong>of</strong><br />
escalating a revolutionary war with more than 3,000 guerrilla forces. The<br />
SADF had evidence that some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ANC/MK troops had been trained in <strong>the</strong><br />
Soviet Union in CBW techniques. 48<br />
Basson was “tasked” to develop Project Coast by a “kitchen cabinet,”<br />
composed <strong>of</strong> Minister <strong>of</strong> Defense Malan, SADC Chief (Gen. C. Viljoen), <strong>the</strong><br />
Commanding Officer <strong>of</strong> Strategic Intelligence and Special Forces (Gen. K.<br />
Liebenberg), SAP Commissioner van der Merwe, and <strong>the</strong> Director General <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> National Intelligence Service (NIS). Basson was placed in charge <strong>of</strong><br />
managing all aspects <strong>of</strong> Project Coast, including defensive and <strong>of</strong>fensive<br />
measures. 49 The annual budget for Project Coast was estimated to be $10<br />
million, with a staff <strong>of</strong> 200 involved. 50 Members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Project Working Group<br />
included Surgeon-General Nieuwoudt and his deputy and successor, Dr. Niels<br />
19