Issued by: Office of the President
Questions with regards to the re-employment of Dr Wouter Basson, and particularly pertaining to how, by whom, and under which conditions his re-employment was authorised, were recently raised by the media following testimony given by Dr Basson during his bail application hearing. We have had the opportunity to check the relevant notes and aides-memoire of briefings and consultations held on the broader issues of which Dr Basson's re-employment was one aspect, and can report as follows.
In summary, the history of Dr Basson's employment is that
The Government of National Unity - in the persons of the President, Executive Deputy President Mbeki, Executive Deputy President De Klerk (who, moreover, as the previous State President had a special knowledge of the matter) and at various later stage relevant Ministers - was on a number of occasions briefed on the defensive Chemical and Biological Welfare (CBW) pvious government as well as on the steps taken to terminate certain aspects of that programme, while maintaining the defensive capability to protect the public at large in the event of natural disaster or a CBW attack against South Africa.
It was in the national interest and had implications for South Africa's non-proliferation obligations to the international community under the relevant agreements to which we are signatories, that as part of this process particular attention be paid to what would happen to the technology, scientists and researchers central to that programme. In this process the ownership of and control over information and scientific expertise gained in the course of the CBW programme were obviously crucial, and the position of Dr Basson was particularly pertinent in this regard.
In this regard, we are bound under international law to comply with all the provisions of the non-proliferation agreements governing chemical and biological warfare, including verification and reporting procedures. Any signatory can challenge a report of another country and we therefore regularly enter into discussion with other signatories to ensure that they and we are meeting with our obligations.
In the high level briefings and consultations on the CBW programme these aspects were raised and there was agreement that Dr Basson's position should be appropriately regularised and regulated. This duly took place with the involvement and consent of the Public Service Commission.
27 February 1997
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