Treaty on the Non-Proliferation
of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)
HISTORY AND PRESENT STATUS
The NPT which was concluded in 1968 and entered
into force in 1970 established an international
framework for preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.
Its membership at the beginning of 1997 stood at
187. The NPT was extended indefinitely at the Review
and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty
on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which
was held in New York during April/May 1995.
South Africa shares the international community's
concern about the spread of nuclear weapons and
strongly advocates the concept of a nuclear weapon-free
world. South Africa became a State Party to the
NPT in July 1991.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND COOPERATING ORGANISATIONS
Department of Minerals and Energy (DME)
South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA)
Council for the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of
Mass Destruction (NPC)
RELEVANT TREATIES/PROTOCOLS
Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)
Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA)
GENERAL COMMENTS
The South African delegation to the NPT Review
and Extension Conference during April/May 1995 supported
the view that the continued existence of the Treaty
should not be placed in jeopardy and that the review
and extension process should strengthen the non-proliferation
regime. South Africa played an active role in the
discussions resulting in the adoption of a set of
"Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation
and Disarmament". The "Principles and
Objectives" focuses, inter alia, on adherence
to the NPT, nuclear disarmament, the conclusion
of the CTBT and the establishment of nuclear weapon-free
zones. South Africa as a country which has voluntarily
given up the nuclear weapons option, sees the decision
to adopt these proposals as the beginning of the
journey towards the achievement of the goals and
obligations of the NPT.
South Africa also played an active role at the
2000 NPT Review Conference, which was successfully
able to adopt a Final Document. At the Review Conference,
South Africa together with its other partners in
the so-called New Agenda Coalition (NAC) for the
elimination of nuclear weapons (Brazil, Egypt, Ireland,
New Zealand, Mexico, Sweden) focused on the achievement
of an unequivocal commitment from the Nuclear Weapon
States (China, France, Russian Federation, United
Kingdom, United States) for the achievement of the
elimination of nuclear weapons. South Africa and
the other members of the NAC also focused on achieving
agreement on a series of practical steps for the
systematic and progressive efforts to implement
the NPT’s Article VI nuclear disarmament provisions.
The successful achievement of these objectives was
instrumental in ensuring the success of the 2000
Review Conference.
The South African Government has since its inauguration
in May 1994, committed itself to a policy of non-proliferation,
disarmament and arms control which covers all weapons
of mass destruction and extends to concerns relating
to the proliferation of conventional weapons. This
policy forms an integral part of its commitment
to democracy, human rights, sustainable development,
social justice and environmental protection.
A primary goal of South Africa's policy is to reinforce
and promote South Africa as a responsible producer,
possessor and trader of defence-related products
and advanced technologies in the nuclear, biological,
chemical and missile fields. South Africa, in so
doing, promotes the benefits which non-proliferation,
disarmament and arms control hold for international
peace and security, particularly to countries in
Africa and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
