A Vanderbijlpark man arrested under laws governing weapons of mass destruction unexpectedly withdrew his application for bail in the Vanderbijlpark Regional Court on Wednesday.
Johan Meyer was arrested last week under the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act and the Nuclear Energy Act. He allegedly possessed uranium-enriching equipment that, according to the charge sheet, could be used to manufacture weapons of mass destruction.
His attorney, Heinrich Badenhorst, was not prepared to discuss why Meyer’s bail application was withdrawn.
He would also not comment on whether Meyer would be assisting authorities with an international investigation into contraventions of laws governing the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Earlier this year, Cape Town-based Asher Karni was arrested in Denver in the United States, and Randburg-based Gerhard Wisser was reportedly taken in for questioning in Germany.
Earlier this week, an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) spokesperson said agency inspectors were in the country as part of an international investigation into a nuclear trafficking network.
Meyer, dressed in a grey, pin-striped suit, sat silently throughout his brief court appearance on Wednesday and was led back down the stairs into custody.
The court agreed that Meyer will remain in custody for another two weeks to allow further investigation.
He will return to the same court on October 11 but Badenhorst said it is likely that the case will eventually be transferred to Pretoria.
Items seized were for enriching uranium, says council
On Tuesday, the South African Council for the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction said items seized during a raid on Meyer’s firm last week do not constitute a weapon of mass destruction, but are essential components in the process to enrich uranium.
The council’s chairperson, Abdul Minty, said that 11 shipping containers containing components of a centrifuge uranium enrichment plant as well as related documentation had been found at the premises of Tradefin Engineering during the raid last Wednesday.
The raid followed investigations by South African authorities in cooperation with other countries as well as the IAEA.
”These investigations have also taken place in the context of the so-called Khan network, through which certain countries were provided with nuclear technology through, among other, networks established in various countries, as well as the information obtained following Libya’s announcement of the abandonment of its nuclear weapons programme.
”The allegations being investigated relate to the import and export of a controlled flow-forming lathe as well as the production and possession of certain components of a centrifuge enrichment plant without the necessary permits.
”These items do not constitute a weapon of mass destruction, but they are essential components in the process to enrich uranium. It is alleged that these activities were intended to assist in the now-abandoned nuclear weapons programme of the Libyan government,” Minty stated.
The 11 containers were sealed by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and transported to a secure site at Pelindaba.
”At our request, the IAEA has also sealed the containers. The IAEA, together with the SAPS, will maintain control over the equipment,” Minty said, adding that IAEA inspectors visit South Africa on a regular basis to inspect nuclear material and related equipment.
Minty said the investigation is still ongoing.
”The South African government shares the international community’s concern over the illicit transfer of nuclear and nuclear related dual-use technology and materials that could be used in weapons of mass destruction and encourages the sharing of information that would identify individuals or entities involved in such illicit activities with a view to prevent, combat and eradicate this illicit trade,” he said. — Sapa, I-Net Bridge