Why South Africa needed nuclear weapon program? Who was it's enemy?

[Kamikaze Pilot]

Why South Africa needed nuclear weapon program? Who was it's enemy?

 

[Bharat Muslim]

Any South African member/supporter here?

 

[Chhatrapati]

I thought SA destroyed it's Nukes.

 

[django]

@denel

 

[Ola]

South Africa developed nuclear weapons during its apartheid era, in those days most non-white countries were not on speaking terms with SA.

 

[Kamikaze Pilot]

I thought SA destroyed it's Nukes.

Yes, SA destroyed it's nukes, but why did it need it BEFORE that?

 

[Chhatrapati]

Yes, SA destroyed it's nukes, but why did it need it BEFORE that?

Because it can be easily developed and whoever holds it have many strategic advantages. It's not about having enemies at the moment. It's about threatening potential enemies.

 

[Politico]

I have family in Cape Town and I follow events in South Africa quite closely, so let me try to help here.

South Africa during apartheid was backed by the west. The Cape is strategically situated in the event of the Suez Canal collapsing or being seized for any reason. All of apartheid South Africa's neighbors opposed the existence of the apartheid government since they were Black governments. In the early 1980s, the last remaining White government apart from South Africa collapsed which was Rhodesia and now called Zimbabwe. Under Mugabe, Zimbabwe was also antagonistic towards the White South African government. When the former USSR and Cuba engaged South African troops during skirmishes in Angola and Mozambique, the apartheid South African government started developing nukes. Many claim that the development of the nukes were done in collaboration with Israel and were quitely backed by the USA under Reagan and UK under Thatcher. What is established though is that by the late 1980s and early 1990s, South Africa was a nuclear armed state. The nuclear programme was a deterrent to the USSR which was openly backing hostile neighbors of South Africa and using its nuclear status to threaten South Africa. What is known though is that during the early 1990s, under pressure from the USA and UK, both of whom realised that a Black government was going to take over South Africa, the apartheid government destroyed its nuke stockpile and signed the NPT

 

[denel]

Any South African member/supporter here?

Here.....

I have family in Cape Town and I follow events in South Africa quite closely, so let me try to help here.

South Africa during apartheid was backed by the west. The Cape is strategically situated in the event of the Suez Canal collapsing or being seized for any reason. All of apartheid South Africa's neighbors opposed the existence of the apartheid government since they were Black governments. In the early 1980s, the last remaining White government apart from South Africa collapsed which was Rhodesia and now called Zimbabwe. Under Mugabe, Zimbabwe was also antagonistic towards the White South African government. When the former USSR and Cuba engaged South African troops during skirmishes in Angola and Mozambique, the apartheid South African government started developing nukes. Many claim that the development of the nukes were done in collaboration with Israel and were quitely backed by the USA under Reagan and UK under Thatcher. What is established though is that by the late 1980s and early 1990s, South Africa was a nuclear armed state. The nuclear programme was a deterrent to the USSR which was openly backing hostile neighbors of South Africa and using its nuclear status to threaten South Africa. What is known though is that during the early 1990s, under pressure from the USA and UK, both of whom realised that a Black government was going to take over South Africa, the apartheid government destroyed its nuke stockpile and signed the NPT

Well, directly from my side, was there in multiple threaters and on the ground and various insights from various departmental policies.

Firstly, you have to take into context why nuclear program was initiated as others were in parallel. The notion that sanctions would attempt to choke entire growth and cripple the country was seen right around 1950s. Many multiple programs to be completely self reliant on fuel e.g. SASOL, then energy production, massive industrialisation and adoption of dual purpose technologies (a simple example mercedes unimog, iveco etc), and nuclear energy with a passive aim towards nuclear weapons.

The notion of african (please dont use work black), backed by Soviets/Cubans were a catalyst. Specifically in 1973 engagement when we had to withdraw from outskirts of Luanda because of massive Soviet weapons which were outclassing our 'western' supplied defence equipment. Rhodesian bush war in full swing was a parallel learning experience which bolted Armscor to produce IFVs which were mine proof to operate in a larger theater of operation and notion of tracked vehicles was obsolete in our doctrine.

In this light, direct Soviet intervention was more the driver for the pursuit of nuclear weapons as by 1978-1980, our conventional armed force was more than a match for entire frontline states combined. The nuclear weapons was to ensure that Soviets would never intervene. Hence they never did and had quietly withdrawn following Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and other theaters such as Eastern Europe, instead Cubans lead the fight in Angola as well as Ethiopia; if it was not for our foreign ministers directly having a few shots in the evening and having a settled fallback e.g. Namibia gets independence while Cuba withdraws was reached much to the irritation of Soviet Union and US when the meeting was reconvene in the morning.

Also correction, US never assisted us nor did UK. They blocked every attempt to gain any form of weapon systems which was also a variable in the overall equation. Our nuclear program was collaborated with Isreal.

Once apartheid was dismantled and a government representative of the people took over (Again, please do not use the word black.... it is offensive and racist); they were in full decision making process of removing the nuclear weapons. The focus was to uplift our country and not to pursue any policy of aggression.

Thank you...

Because it can be easily developed and whoever holds it have many strategic advantages. It's not about having enemies at the moment. It's about threatening potential enemies.

No.... wrong.

 

[Chhatrapati]

No.... wrong.

As far as I see the first part, it is, developing one is not so hard.

I may be wrong about friends or enemies of SA. Probably the Europeans were the enemies???