Disarmament Diplomacy

Issue No. 64, May - June 2002

News Review

South Africa Scientist Acquitted of Apartheid-Era BW Crimes

In Pretoria High Court on April 11, Dr. Wouter Basson was acquitted on charges alleging his involvement in biological warfare experiments and assassination attempts using biological agents and toxins while working for South Africa's apartheid regime from 1982-92. State prosecutors immediately announced their intent to appeal the verdict, which ended a trial lasting nearly two years and attracting widespread national and international interest for the disturbing if partial glimpse it provided into South Africa's pre-liberation BW programme. Reaction to the acquittal was generally split along racial lines. Former Army General Constand Viljoen, a supporter of Bassoon, told reporters simply: "Justice has been done and the judge was very fair". A resident from a nearby township, Sidney Maladhzi, remarked: "It seems very unfair to me. Many people died and the judge did nothing about it. There was so much evidence against him."

Note: for analysis of the significance and context of the Basson case, see Chandré Gould, 'More Questions than Answers: the Ongoing Trial of Dr. Wouter Basson', Disarmament Diplomacy No. 52 (November 2000).

Reports: 'Plot to poison enemies of apartheid', London Evening Standard, April 10; 'Dr Death' awaits verdict for apartheid-regime crimes, Global Security Newswire, April 10; Africa apartheid germ warfare expert not guilty, Reuters, April 11; 'Dr Death' found not guilty on all counts, Global Security Newswire, April 11; S. Africa weapons chief acquitted, Associated Press, April 14.

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© 2002 The Acronym Institute.