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
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Knobel’s testimony to <strong>the</strong> TRC, SADF Counterintelligence destroyed all<br />
agents in January 1993. The methaqualone purchased in Croatia was allegedly<br />
destroyed <strong>the</strong>n, after <strong>the</strong> order was received that work on all incapacitants<br />
should cease. On 7 January 1993, Knobel advised his superiors that South<br />
Africa “should conceal” NGT (CR) gas from <strong>the</strong> Chemical Weapons<br />
Convention. On 14 January 1993, South Africa acceded to <strong>the</strong> CWC.<br />
However, work on <strong>the</strong> dispersion <strong>of</strong> NGT (CR) gas continued. 155 By March<br />
1993, South Africa completed <strong>the</strong> process <strong>of</strong> dismantling its six nuclear<br />
weapons. By <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> 1993, <strong>the</strong> South African missile <strong>program</strong> was rolled<br />
back.<br />
The order to terminate Project Coast led to <strong>the</strong> immediate transfer <strong>of</strong><br />
ownership <strong>of</strong> RRL and Delta G to Project Coast managers, including Basson<br />
and Mijburgh. The way had been open to massive financial improprieties. The<br />
10 shareholders in <strong>the</strong> Roodeplaat Research Laboratories became millionaires<br />
overnight when <strong>the</strong> SADF closed down Project Coast at <strong>the</strong> beginning <strong>of</strong> 1993.<br />
Later, <strong>the</strong> SADF paid <strong>the</strong> debtors, who were <strong>the</strong> shareholders, a total <strong>of</strong> R18<br />
million ($18 million in 1993). However, <strong>the</strong> details <strong>of</strong> this multi-million-rand<br />
scam only emerged in 1996 in Parliament. This was almost a year after <strong>the</strong><br />
South African National Defense Force (SANDF) had written <strong>of</strong>f Project<br />
Coast’s debts <strong>of</strong> almost R22 million. 156<br />
According to Gen. (ret.) Meiring, <strong>the</strong> process <strong>of</strong> rolling back <strong>the</strong> CBW<br />
Program took almost three years <strong>of</strong> commercializing <strong>the</strong> front companies and<br />
phasing out <strong>the</strong> scientists. 157 In 1993, a forensic audit was conducted to<br />
determine <strong>the</strong> whereabouts <strong>of</strong> all moneys and <strong>the</strong> availability <strong>of</strong> CW and BW<br />
agents. The only problem that was detected was <strong>the</strong> Croatian swindle, and a<br />
South African agent was arrested by <strong>the</strong> Swiss government. Also in 1993, <strong>the</strong><br />
Office <strong>of</strong> Serious Economic Offenses (OSEO) was investigating reports <strong>of</strong><br />
financial misdealings, and General Meiring and Surgeon General Knobel<br />
appeared and gave testimony. They also briefed President de Klerk.<br />
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