Topic:
Country: South Africa
Delegate Name: Farrah Salyer
Under South Africa’s Apartheid government, nuclear weapons were researched and created. With support and supplies, provided by the U.S., South Africa was able to develop six nuclear weapons. This program ended in 1989 when the U.S. and USSR discovered a nuclear weapons test in the Kalahari desert. Both countries made this discovery known to the U.N. This caused many countries to view South Africa as a threat and to start pulling away from them.
South Africa has since shut down its nuclear weapons program and has come up with other solutions to defense. South Africa can build an intermediate- level ballistic missile but has no reason to do so due to a shift in interest. South Africa is an active participant in the international space science program and the government has recently attempted to revive the country’s space launch vehicle program. South Africa has little need for ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons so its priorities have changed to the research and exploration of space.
South African companies now create and export multiple weapons including short- range missiles, precision guided weapons systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles . The company, Denel Dynamics, produces multiple weapons, including the Umkhoto missile, and works with multiple countries to export and create designs. These weapons were tested to show the weapons power but to also make sure they’re not too dangerous to keep. The weapons are now being integrated into the South African Armies ground based air defense system. None of these weapons are ballistic missiles, but are still able to protect South Africa. These companies create weapons that protect the country without relying on nuclear technology.
