WEEKLY SURVEYOR

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0001246408
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: June 23, 2015
• Document Release Date: March 15, 2010
• Case Number: F-2005-01250
• Publication Date: July 22, 1974

22 July 1974
APPROVED FOR RELEASED
DATE: 03-02-2010
Weekly Surveyor
 W ning Notice
Sensitive Intelligence urces and Method,, Involved
NATIONAL SECURITY 1$ FORMATION
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject t Criminal Sanctions
 Weeks Surveyor
22 July 1974
South Africa Not Currently in Position to Produce Nuclear
Weapons: On 10 July 1974, Dr. Louw Alberts, Vice Presi-
dent the South African Atomic Energy Board announced
that South Africa now has the capability to construct
an atomic bomb. Alberts did not deny the possibility
that South Africa has or ccntemplates a bomb bevelopment
program, but confined himself to saying that it is
South African policy to use nuclear knowledge for
Comment: South Africa is not currently in a posi-
tion to produce nuclear weapons. The only reactor it
now possesses is a research reactor which is under IAEA
safeguards. As yet, South Africa has no means of producing
enriched uranium. Their pilot plant is expected to be-
come operational sometime in 1974. It is designed to
produce only a low enriched product, not suitable for
weapons production. Changes in the process, however,
probably could be made which would permit the production
of weapons grade enriched uranium should they decide to go
into a weapons program,
IN
peaceful purposes.