The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) welcomes the signing by the President of South Africa Jacob Zuma of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on September 20, 2017, at the United Nations in New York. South Africa has joined a United Nations alliance of over 40 countries banning the use of nuclear weapons.

Group Necsa CEO, Mr Phumzile Tshelane expressed pleasure, “The African Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty, also known as the Treaty of Pelindaba established a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Africa. The treaty was signed in 1996 and came into effect with the 28th ratification on 15 July 2009. This signing in New York marks a continuation of South Africa’s commitment to maintaining a nuclear weapon free zone.”

South Africa remains the one and only country that has ever voluntarily disbanded its nuclear weapons programme which the government did towards the end of apartheid.

 

Issued by South African Nuclear Energy Corporation